SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock wants the club to continue moving forward during his second year in charge.

Sturrock this week celebrated his first anniversary in the Roots Hall hot-seat.

But, despite being pleased with the progress he has made, the Scotsman is not resting on his laurels and wants Blues to progress both on and off the pitch.

“It’s important that we kick on and keep the club moving forward,” said Sturrock.

“On the pitch we need to make sure we go up the leagues and, off it, it’s important we get into the new stadium to secure a brighter future.

“I’m pleased with how things have gone during the first year but there’s still an awful long way to go and plenty of hard work still to be done.”

Sturrock replaced Steve Tilson in charge 12 months ago and inherited a club in crisis.

The team had just been relegated in to League Two and the small squad contained a number of disgruntled players who had not been paid their wages.

On top of that Blues remained under a transfer embargo and could not register any new signings.

“It was a tough time and one of the hardest I’ve gone into at a football club,” said Sturrock.

“On my first day we had nine players and five of those wrote me a letter saying they wanted to leave because of the situation with their wages.

“That meant I had four players to work with and couldn’t bring any others in.

“We finally managed to register 17 players just before the first game of the season so to go from there to where we are now is pleasing.

“But we have to push on and work even harder on the training ground.”

Sturrock has now established a settled squad which has been bolstered by the summer purchases of Neil Harris, Alassane N’Diaye and Jemal Johnson.

The former Scotland international insisted he was still looking to make more signings.

And he wants the team to be pushing for promotion next term.

FULL STORY IN WEDNESDAY'S ECHO