NEW Southend United boss Kevin Bond has vowed to make the Shrimpers a hardworking team who will never give up.

Bond will boss Blues until the end of the season.

And he is determined to make struggling Southend far tougher to beat.

“We can guarantee that we will be the hardest working team and a team who will never give up,” said Bond.

“We will be as well prepared as anyone else and if we do all that then we’ll get the results and edge nearer where we want to be.

“We’ll take it game by game and training session to session but things won’t happen overnight.”

The Shrimpers, who are 20th in the League One standings, have gone 12 games without a win and sit just above the drop zone on goal difference. But, despite Blues’ struggles, Bond jumped at the chance to come to Roots Hall to replace Chris Powell.

“I’m thrilled to bits to be here,” said Bond.

“The lads were great and everyone has been great. I’m really looking forward to the really important half a dozen games we have to go.

“It’s great to be back involved in football, especially in this capacity which is something I’ve wanted to do for quite a while. I had a conversation with the chairman who I was really impressed with and I know them because I’ve seen them play a number of times.”

Bond will boss the Shrimpers for the first time in this Saturday’s clash at Fleetwood Town.

And a club statement explained the reasons for his appointment.

It read: “Following the departure of Chris Powell last Tuesday, the club’s academy manager Ricky Duncan and under-23s manager Kevin Maher took the reins on Saturday for the match against Shrewsbury Town, we thank them for doing so.

“Both Ricky and Kevin anticipated this interim position would be shortlived and for the need for them to return to their existing responsibilities, the board felt that more fundamental changes needed to be made.

“The club has appointed Kevin Bond as manager for the remaining six games of the season and shall review the position at the end of the season.

“Kevin worked closely with Harry Redknapp over an extended 10-year period, accumulating to over 480 games as assistant manager including long periods at Portsmouth, Tottenham and QPR. As such, Kevin is highly experienced and with considerable knowledge of League One.”