EFE Sodje won promotion with both Southend United and Bury during his playing career.

And the former Nigerian international believes the two teams can taste success again this season, despite their midweek misery.

Blues were beaten 1-0 at Newport County as their winless streak extended to four matches while the Shakers were thrashed 5-0 at Shrewsbury Town.

But Sodje, who is now assistant manager at Macclesfield Town, is backing both sides to recover and be up towards the top of the League Two table this term.

“Southend United and Bury are both clubs that will always be close to me and I really do think they will do well this year,” said Sodje.

“They will be challenging for promotion, even though this hasn’t been the best of weeks for them both.

“Bury had been doing quite well until they lost 5-0 at Shrewsbury but they will be fine and so will Southend because they have a fantastic manager in Phil Brown.”

Sodje certainly knows all about winning promotion too having tasted it eight times as a player.

The centre-back joined Blues in January 2006 and helped Steve Tilson’s side clinch the League One title that season.

The defender missed the last few games of the campaign after breaking his leg at Bournemouth.

But he remains rightfully proud of his part in the success.

“I had a great time at Southend and it was a very good team back then,” said Sodje.

“We had the likes of Freddy Eastwood, Spencer Prior, Mark Gower, Shaun Goater and most of all we had a fantastic team spirit.

“I think that was vital and while it was disappointing to break my leg I still felt a part of it all and it was a great time for the club.”

Sodje fought his way back to full fitness and forced his way back in to the Shrimpers’ starting line-up in the Championship.

But perhaps his most memorable moment in a Southend shirt was when he helped Blues beat Manchester United in the League Cup at Roots Hall.

“Beating Manchester United would be right up there with winning promotion for me,” said Sodje.

“I remember it was one of my first games back after breaking my leg and Jamal Campbell-Ryce was asking me before the match what we were going to do with Ronaldo.

“I told him I was going to make sure I tackled him first and I actually did which was great.

“Darryl Flahavan was just amazing in goal that night but it was our spirit which won it.

“I’m still proud to be a part of that Southend side and I had a great relationship with the fans there.

“The chairman was very nice too and it was just a shame we couldn’t stay in the Championship that year.

“But I don’t think the club could really afford the investment that was needed for us to avoid relegation.”

Sodje left to join Gillingham at the end of that season before teaming up with Bury, originally on loan in February 2008.

The distinctive defender, who played wearing a bandana, went on to spend five years with the Shakers and has happy memories of his time at Gigg Lane, where he also won promotion.

However, in a career which spans 18 years and, which according to Sodje is not yet over, there can only be one highlight – playing at the 2002 World Cup for Nigeria.

“I think it’s one thing going to a World Cup but it’s another thing playing and thankfully I did both,” said Sodje.

“It was amazing and was an obvious high point for me but so were all eight of the promotions.

“People always ask what my favourite one was but I always say it’s every single one of them."

Nowadays, Sodje is seeking promotion mostly from the sidelines in his role of assistant manager at Macclesfield Town.

The Silkmen sit seventh in the National Conference and Sodje is loving being back at Moss Rose.

“We’re doing well and I’m enjoying being the assistant manager but I am still registered as a player too,” stressed Sodje.

“I’m learning all the time and would one day love to become a manager myself.

“That’s what I’m working towards and of course I’ll still be wearing my bandana when it happens.”