Maher is determined to turn Shrimpers around
KEVIN Maher has left Bristol Rovers to become the head coach of National League side Southend United.
Maher, a legend at Roots Hall after 11 seasons and more than 450 appearances for the Shrimpers, has taken up the top job there after the sacking of Phil Brown.
Maher was part of the Rovers coaching staff at Colchester on Tuesday night, and he wished his colleagues well after the game before heading off to sign his contract at Southend.
The Essex-born Irishman joined Rovers in the summer of 2019 as part of Graham Coughlan’s coaching staff and went on to work under four managers at the Memorial Stadium.
Recently, he had coupled his firstteam coaching duties with running Rovers’ development squad.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” he said. “Walking back in and the familiar surroundings that I’ve been so used to throughout my playing career and also coaching career, I’m delighted to be back and can’t wait to get started and hopefully help the club move in the right direction.
“While it’s brilliant to have the connections as a player, what I’ve learnt throughout my career has been a massive part of that and we had some brilliant times, we want to bring them back.
“It’s going to take time. It’s been a difficult time for the club in the last few years, but everyone is pulling in the direction that we want to bring success back to this football club. If we are all in it together there’s no reason we can’t start to turn things. Slowly, we will do that, I’m sure of that because there’s a lot of good people at the club and we all want the same thing.”
Maher, who has signed a contract until 2024, has previous managerial experience in the National League South with Chelmsford. He also had two spells as Rovers’ caretaker boss.
“Kevin leaves with our best wishes and we would like to thank him for his service to the football club,” Rovers CEO Martyn Starnes said.