By BERNIE FRIEND

LEGENDARY scrapper Roy McDonough wants to help struggling Southend United fight their way out of relegation trouble.

The Roots Hall hardman, who was sent off an English record 22 times, believes he can ignite some desperately-needed fire in the bellies of a Shrimpers side who have gone 10 games without a win.

And McDonough, who played 242 games and scored 40 times for Blues during the 1980s and 1990s, has offered to give under-pressure boss Chris Powell – his old Southend team-mate – a hand in keeping the club in League One.

“Sometimes it can help to have a fresh voice on the training pitch and if Chris wants to give me a call I’d love to help out,” said the former targetman, 60, who lives in Spain.

“I believe I can offer something different in the fight ahead and we all want the same thing – for Southend to stay up.”

McDonough’s last spell in full-time coaching was at Essex rivals Colchester United, where he won the Conference and FA Trophy double in 1992 on a shoestring budget as player-manager.

He added: “My strength was generating a strong team spirit, which goes a long way in winning football matches.

“All of my boys were free transfers, the players nobody else wanted, but we forged a tight togetherness and every game was like World War Three, scrapping and battling non-stop for 90 minutes.

“And that is what Southend needs now - passion, spirit and belief - if they are going to keep their heads above water.”

McDonough won two promotions with Southend in 1987 and 1990, and a last-day third-tier reprieve in 1988, following a 4-0 hammering of Blackpool.

And the fiery frontman, who ran the taps on seven of his early baths at Blues, believes he still has a lot to offer the present-day club.

“People will say I’m a dinosaur, but Mick Harford and Wally Downes don’t seem to be doing too badly in Southend’s division at Luton and Wimbledon, do they?” McDonough added.

“The game hasn’t changed that much.

“Look at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United, he hasn’t gone in there with a magic wand.

“He’s gone back to basics, instilled that togetherness and look at the results.

“Team spirit is important at any level. Back in the day, I’d take the lads to the pub or get them doing something different, like playing indoor cricket, to generate it.

“You just do what it takes and if the modern-day player needs more of an arm around the shoulder, or they all want to go for a manicure, pedicure and glass of fizzy pop, then that’s what you do.

“All professional sportsmen should go on the pitch with one word in their head, ‘winning’.

“And team spirit is a massive part of that.”

McDonough is definitely returning to Roots Hall for the clash with Burton Albion on Monday, April 22, ahead of his show with talkSPORT’s Paul Hawksbee at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff, that evening.

“I can’t wait to come back and see all the fans at the show,” he said.

“Southend United was a massive part of my life, where I met some great characters and friends, and it means a lot to me.”

Tickets are on sale now from the Palace box office on 01702 351135.