SOUTHEND United's new goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall is striving to push the Shrimpers back into the Championship.

The 30-year-old shot-stopper, who stands at 6 foot 6 inches tall, rejected a new contract with Yeovil Town and an offer from Crewe Alexandra to put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Roots Hall.

And the keeper revealed it was down to the club's burning ambition to achieve promotion out of the League One.

"Everybody at Southend wants to push on in the right direction and so do I, so that's a major reason in my choosing to come here," said Mildenhall.

"The club plays attractive football and have great ambition with the plans for the new stadium in place.

"The club is big enough to go up and that's what I want to do.

"They were in the Championship the other season so have proved they can get up there and in my opinion they were unlucky to get relegated."

Mildenhall, who joins the club on a free transfer, has formerly played for Swindon Town, Notts County, Oldham Athletic and Grimsby Town, as well as Yeovil.

With those clubs he has a combined total of 273 career appearances and even once managed to score for Notts County in a 4-3 win at Mansfield in August 2001.

Mildenhall now hopes for more highs and the Shrimpers' form towards the end of last season, when they went on to reach the play-offs, has made him even more confident ahead of the new campaign.

"When teams go down the season after can often be disappointing but Southend bucked that trend with the year they had," he said.

"They got into the play-offs and from speaking with the gaffer here everyone has great expectations for the new season and so do I."

Mildenhall is also striving to become the Seasiders' number one choice between the sticks.

But he knows that will not be easy if Darryl Flahavan opts to sign the club's offer of a new one-year contract.

"Flavs is an excellent keeper and whenever I've played against him or seen him on television he's been pulling off saves all over the place," said Mildenhall.

"If he stays then it's going to be a real challenge, but it will be one that I am willing to take on."