Southend United Chairman Justin Rees Wants to Attack Next Season More Than Oldham Athletic

Southend United Chairman Justin Rees Wants to Attack Next Season More Than Oldham Athletic

 

Southend United chairman Justin Rees has vowed that the heartbreak of missing out on promotion this season will serve as fuel for a more aggressive and determined push in the next campaign – one that he believes will eclipse the efforts of rivals like Oldham Athletic.

 

Speaking after the Shrimpers’ disappointing National League play-off exit, Rees remained positive and focused, insisting that Southend’s return to the Football League is still firmly in sight. Rather than dwelling on the pain of another near miss, he wants the club to channel that frustration into motivation and come back stronger than ever.

 

“This season’s ending was tough to take,” said Rees. “But we’ve built something special here. The supporters, the players, and the staff all share the same hunger – and we’re going to use that to attack next season with everything we’ve got.”

 

Rees emphasized that Southend won’t be standing still while their rivals prepare. He referenced Oldham Athletic, another historic club trying to fight their way back up the football pyramid, as a benchmark — but not one the Shrimpers are content to merely match.

 

“Oldham are a big club and I respect what they’re doing,” Rees said. “But we’re not aiming to be equal to them — we’re aiming to be better. We want to out-work, out-plan, and out-perform every team in this league. It’s time we stop looking back and start setting the pace.”

 

Southend’s 2024–25 campaign saw some encouraging progress under manager Kevin Maher, who has been credited with stabilising the club and forging a resilient squad on and off the pitch. Despite injuries and budget restrictions, the Shrimpers stayed in the top seven for much of the season and came within touching distance of a return to League Two.

 

Rees confirmed that the board will back Maher again this summer, both in terms of recruitment and infrastructure.

 

“Kevin has done a fantastic job, and we trust him fully,” said Rees. “He knows what this club is about. We’ll be working closely with him to strengthen the squad in the right areas. We won’t be reckless, but we’ll be ambitious.”

 

There’s also hope off the field, with Rees hinting at progress regarding the club’s long-standing stadium issues and financial stability — both of which have held Southend back in recent years.

 

“Our fans deserve clarity, ambition and hope — and that’s what we’re going to give them,” Rees added. “We’ve made huge strides behind the scenes, and we’re not finished yet.”

 

With optimism building, the message from the chairman is clear: Southend United will go into next season not just with hope, but with intent.

 

“We don’t just want to get promoted — we want to do it by being the best team in the league,” Rees said. “And we’ll do everything in our power to make sure Southend United lead from the front.”

 

As pre-season preparations begin, the Shrimpers’ faithful can look forward to a club that’s no longer looking over its shoulder — but charging ahead.

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