Former Queens Park Rangers Man Valued At £100,000 Finds New Club

Southend United have announced the permanent signing of Joe Gubbins, following his release from Queens Park Rangers.

Gubbins has signed a two-year deal at Roots Hall according to club media, and he brings decent experience to a club who could be considered in need of it.

He’ll in fact be a familiar face to some Southend fans given that he spend a short amount of time during the 2021/22 season on loan with the club. During that time he’d make ten National League appearances, nine of those being starts, and will now be returning back to the National League outfit this time on a permanent.

Having spent more-or-less the entirety of last season on loan at League Two side Accrington Stanley, making 37 appearances in the fourth tier, it could indeed be a good deal of business by the Shrimpers. Given he has been signed on a free, it only makes for better reading and the versatile defender could go onto better things at the club.

Still just 22, Gubbins retains plenty of potential and now looking likely to get consistent minutes, he may well thrive. The defender has been with QPR ever since his youth days, but has made just four Championship appearances for the R’s. Loans to the likes of Oxford City, Aldershot and Accrington as well as his stint with Southend have however allowed him to gain a good amount of senior experience.

Although it may have not worked out with QPR, Gubbins’ career is still only just starting and the central-defender, who can also play at left-back, will be expected to play a starring role at Roots Hall.

After signing a permanent deal with the club, the 22-year-old told club media:

“I know what the Club’s all about and how big the fanbase is, so I’m delighted to be back and really, really excited to get going.

“I expect it to be a tough season and I want to come here and make an impact, and help the team get promoted.

“I think now I’m older, I want to bring some leadership qualities from the back. I want to put my mark on the team in terms of communication, passing, defending, and more importantly, helping the team get clean sheets.”

Writer’s View

There is so much to like about this deal from a Southend perspective. Gubbins is valued at just under £100,000 by Transfermarkt, yet they’ve got him on a free from QPR and he retains plenty of ability so if he does have a standout year, then they could get a sizeable fee for him next term.

With the financial issues surrounding the club beginning to ease, perhaps the Shrimpers can really kick on next season after a decent year on the turf last time around.

It’s worth noting that two of Gubbins’ Championship appearances came at the start of last season and he was rather highly-thought of. A decent-enough loan with Accrington last term further enhances his claims as a great pick-up at the level and this could well be a stepping stone onto better things for him.

RELATED ARTICLES

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Leave a Reply