DANNY Cleare has stepped down as Southend Saxons’ first team coach.

Cleare masterminded Southend’s great escape act in National Three London & SE last season.

But he has now opted to return to Rochford Hundred, where he played before making the move to Warners Bridge back in 2007.

“I fancied a new challenge and I always wanted to go back to Rochford at some stage so that’s what I’ve decided to do,” explained Cleare.

“I’m sad to leave Southend because I’ve had 10 great years there and I was really proud that we were able to stay up.

“It’s a club full of great people and I’ve left on good terms so I can see myself going back there one day to coach them again.”

Cleare will have no coaching responsibilities at Rochford and will instead be focusing on hitting top form on the pitch.

Cleare, who can play as a winger or at full-back, bagged a hat-trick against Sutton & Epsom towards the end of the season to ensure he finished the campaign as the club’s top try scorer, having touched down eight times.

And he will now be seeking more of the same at Rochford, where he will be linking up with his former Southend team-mates Chris Green and Michael Guess who both hold coaching roles at Magnolia Road.

“First and foremost I’m looking forward to having a bit of a break but then of course I’ll be looking forward to teaming up with Rochford for the new season,” said Cleare.

“Hopefully we can have a good season and win promotion.”

Rochford finished eighth in London Two North East last season but are expected to recruit heavily in the build up to the next campaign.

Cleare’s arrival is the first addition since the end of the season and leaves Southend looking for a new head coach.

The Saxons seemed destined for the drop when they were deducted 10 points by the RFU after failing to control their fans in a heated clash with Colchester.

However, Cleare’s appointment led to a huge transformation in the team’s form as they triumphed seven times in eight games to work their way out of the bottom three and avoid dropping down into London One North.

Southend eventually finished the campaign in 11th, three points above the drop zone.

Cleare is also director of rugby at the hugely successful Seevic College, in Thundersley, and has helped them win a number of top titles again this season.