BEN Coker insists he would be honoured to captain Southend United again next season.

Coker skippered the Shrimpers towards the end of last season and also won an Echosport poll for the role among the club’s supporters.

Blues boss Chris Powell has yet to decide who will be skipper this term and has tried out several options during pre-season.

But Coker would love to be chosen.

“It’s up to the manager of course but if I’m chosen to be the captain then I would be honoured and proud, just like I was last season,” said the left-back.

“I know Southend have had some great captains over the year and since I’ve been here we’ve had two high profile ones in Adam Barrett and Anton Ferdinand.

“If I was to be picked then it would be great but if I’m not then it wouldn’t change the way I played.”

Coker has been with Blues since 2013 and has made more appearances for the club than any other player in the current squad.

The 29-year-old has lined up 191 times for the Shrimpers and has high hopes heading into the forthcoming campaign.

“I think we have to set our sights high and we want to win promotion this season,” said Coker.

“We fully understand that it’s going to be tough and there will be no easy games.

“But the manager has made some signings and we have a good squad so we’re aiming high which I think every team should.

“We finished last season well too but it’s going to be another difficult challenge.”

Coker and his Shrimpers have worked tirelessly throughout pre-season training and will complete their warm up fixtures at National League side Leyton Orient this weekend.

And Coker has been impressed by the work being done.

“I think pre-season has been good this season and it’s been very professional too,” said the defender.

“You see things being done like the improvements to the changing room and it’s the standard we want to get to.

“We’ve also done a lot of the work with the ball and I think it’s been going well.

“We will finish things off at Leyton Orient this weekend and then we’re onto the start of the League One season which everyone is looking forward to.”

Blues will host Doncaster Rovers at Roots Hall on the opening day of the League One campaign a week on Saturday.