PERRY Rourke is the latest Southend United fan to have his say on the latest happenings at Roots Hall.

And the keen Blues fan is keen for left-back Ben Coker, who is currently out with a knee injury, to be handed a new contract to ensure he remains at Roots Hall.

After the first broadcast of Ben Coker’s new BBC documentary this week it’s alarmed a lot of fans that he is out of contract at the end of the season.

I’m not sure what the club and Chris Powell are waiting for really.

After the horrific luck he’s had with injuries in seasons gone by he has more than made up for his absence with his on the field performances.

And, as such, I don’t feel we should be letting arguably one of our best players run into the last six months of their contract when he’s been such a loyal servant and key performer on the field and in the dressing room during his tenure at the club.

In this instance I believe the club should have rewarded him with at least a year extension by now in order for him to prove himself again next season, bearing in mind it wasn’t long ago he was being linked with moves to Championship clubs.

The club must be more proactive and less reactive when it comes to contracts as we’ve seen in the past with Jack Payne moving on.

Even players like Adam Thompson and David Worrall, who were key members of the squad under Phil Brown , left due to uncertainty over the progress of a new deal with us.

And we cannot afford the same to happen with Coker.

>Want to be the next Blues fan to express your views?

Email chris.phillips@newsquest.co.uk to declare an interest