Dean updates ahead of Southend home game

First team manager Jimmy Dean has reflected on the week gone by and previewed the Iron’s final home game of the 2022/23 season, where they will take on Southend United in the Vanarama National League on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

He began by speaking about how this week’s preparations have gone, saying: “It’s not gone ideally, we’ve picked up a few injuries since last Saturday, so we’re just trying to get something together for the game.”

Dean then elaborated on the squad players who have picked up injuries, adding: “The short-term ones are Richie Bennett, Jake Leake, Ben Richards-Everton, and Mason O’Malley. They all picked up knocks - Bennett was in the game last week, as was Leake with his quad, Richards-Everton was in the game with his knee, and O’Malley pulled his back in training. George Taft has also dropped a dumbbell on his toe and broke it.”

He added: “Alfie Beestin, Aaron Chapman and Jordan Hallam are also recovering from their injuries, but Alfie is doing really well. Tom Pugh is also suspended so we have quite a few missing. Will Smith is back from illness though and we’re also hoping Marcus Carver is okay following a knock.”

The boss then spoke about how these injuries provide an opportunity for others to step up. He said: “It’s an opportunity for the boys to play without the pressure. We have some good young lads in the youth team so we will be involving them tomorrow too.”

Dean also spoke about finishing this season as positively as possible, adding: “They’ve had a tough few years so hopefully this season will be the end of it, and we can start looking forward more positively and winning more football matches. There are still a couple games left of this season and it’s important we give our all in those games.”

On the opposition, the manager said: “Kevin (Maher, Southend manager) has done a great job there with some really good recruitment in the summer, with a couple of lads I knew from the level below. They’ve gone in and done well and a lot of players who weren’t expected to do well, have done. Credit to him and credit to what his team has done. They’ve had embargos, which I’ve worked under (at Peterborough Sports) and it’s not easy, but they’ve handled it really well.”

He added: “They’ve come off the back of a bad run which has probably made it difficult to get into the play-offs. They had a quick turnaround and won a couple but lost again on Tuesday. They’re still playing for it, I think they’re four points off, so they’re not going to give up. It’s a game where we have to keep the integrity of the competition alive and do it properly.”

Finally, Dean praised the fans, who have shown their loyal support going into the 2023/24 season following on from this one. He said: “Season tickets sales for next year are seven times what they were at this time last year. Considering we’re coming off the back of a relegation, and going to the lowest level that the club’s been at for a long time, it’s amazing.”

He finished: “I feel devastated that we’ve had to go through this, this season, but sometimes you have to take a step back to take two or three forward and that’s what we need to do. We need to build some momentum and get back up the leagues. That’s where the chairman is at, he has big plans, so hopefully we can all get behind him and make them happen.”