SOUTHEND United’s new owners are working on a plan to get Shrimpers supporters back in the North Bank.

The stand behind the goal housed Blues fans until the new South Stand was built in the mid 1990s.

However, the North Bank is still regarded by many as the spiritual home for Southend fans.

And, in a statement released this afternoon, the club’s chief executive Tom Lawrence has revealed the consortium are keen to get part of the North Bank filled by Shrimpers supporters again.

He said: “We have been working with Essex Police and Southend City Council to formulate a plan to return part of the North Bank to home fans.

“This is where I stood as a kid and I understand the desire of many fans to return home fans to part of the North Bank and I look forward to seeing this plan executed.”

However, away fans will still be located in the North Bank too.

Lawrence explained: “Due to complicated flow rate calculations, we will be keeping the away fans in the North East corner which is restricted to a maximum capacity of 815.

“The North-West part of the North Bank (yellow seats) and North-West quadrant will be returned to home fans, providing about 1,400 additional seats.

“To achieve this, a substantial amount of work needs to be done, including refurbishing toilets and the repurposing of a disused kiosk, to become a bar, together with repairs to seats.

“Contractors are on site now, and our aim is to have this area operational for the Christmas period - but achieving this target will be no mean feat.