ESSEX could be set to make a shock return to the Southend Cricket Festival.

The county played in the town for 105 years before controversially pulling out two seasons ago.

But the club’s new chief executive Derek Bowden has confirmed Essex are now considering coming back to Garon Park.

“We’re going to take another look at Southend,” said Bowden.

“I do think that there’s real value in extending it out to the community, as opposed to expecting everybody to commute to Chelmsford for every single game.

“We’re reviewing it and we’re going to have a look at it, certainly for Twenty20 games.

“We’ll see whether we can accommodate a game there and, with the ground redevelopment at Chelmsford, there’s an opportunity for us to get back out on the road.

“Clearly, we’re not going to do it and lose money, because that would be crazy.

“But I think it’s important that we get ourselves out and about in the county.

“Taking it on the road will help introduce more youngsters to cricket and allows those to watch it who perhaps can’t travel to Chelmsford on their own.”

Despite Essex’s decision to stop playing in Southend, the festival continued with Unicorns, a team made up of players with-out current full time contracts with  one  of the regular first class   counties,   playing  40-over matches at the venue.

Unicorns are likely to come back to Southend next summer to play Twenty20 matches against Essex and Middlesex’s second teams.

But the festival’s operations directions Neil Harding has welcomed news that Essex are also considering playing a part.

“It’s very nice to hear that Essex are thinking about playing in Southend again and I think it would be very well received by the public if they did,” said Harding.

“The festivals here have always been well supported and still are but it’s very welcome news that Essex are thinking about coming back again.”

Essex are currently in the middle of the Colchester Cricket Festival which they decided to keep on when scrapping their stint in Southend.

Bowden also added that the club are exploring the possibility of playing at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.

Essex previously staged a Cricket Festival in Ilford before it ended in 2003.