Southend have announced Kevin Bond has signed a two-year contract to manage the club after he helped guide them to League One safety.
Bond replaced Chris Powell in April and steered the Shrimpers to League One survival, finally secured in the final game of the season when they beat playoff finalist Sunderland with an eighty-seventh-minute winner from substitute Stephen Humphreys.
Under Bond, Southend only lost two of their last six games and won two out of their final three to stay up. It turned out to be form good enough to get Harry Redknapp’s long-time assistant the position for a further two years.
‘I couldn’t be more pleased,’ said Bond on the club’s official website. ‘I thoroughly enjoyed the last few weeks of the season, although it was a pretty tense experience, and I can’t wait to get started on planning for what we all hope is a bright future for Southend United.’
The news was greeted positively on social media by many Southend supporters who welcomed an early decision and the opportunity for Bond to re-shape a squad that they felt severely underperformed last season.
Even controversial chairman Ron Martin came in for some praise.
Here is a selection of their responses on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/Jim87Shrimper/status/1129335106303418368
Good work all round. He did what Ron asked him to do. Fair play to Ron for giving him the chance. Happy with that and happy we’ve done it early.
— KL Shrimper (@djmikejolly) May 17, 2019
Wasn't sure at first but am convinced now good appointment
— Swerve (@wegoagainonsat) May 17, 2019
He deserves a chance. Let's get behind him and see how he does. Pros is that he has seen who we need to keep and get rid of. Good luck to him. #UTB 💙
— Nicola Meyer (@NicolaMeyer7) May 17, 2019
Happy with that, congratulations Kevin 💙⚽️💙⚽️💙
— Natasha Hague (@natashaboo7) May 17, 2019
Great! Deserves his chance. Time to crack on now. 👍👏
— Graham Richardson (@secondalibi74) May 17, 2019
Great appointment. Fully deserved.
— Jack (@jacketh92) May 17, 2019
Kevin Bonds Barmy Army
— Dru (Admirer of Onanas) (@6ft5Man) May 17, 2019
The squad to be shaken not stirred this summer @KevinBond pic.twitter.com/i0ecP7cqgi
— James Miller (@mypantsaremessi) May 17, 2019
Kevin deserves his chance after working a miracle to keep the Blues up. Good luck mate, we are all behind you