ADRIAN Clarke feels Southend United’s players will be excited by the prospect of working with Sol Campbell.

The former England international is expected to be named the next Shrimpers boss.

And ex-Blues winger Clarke, who has known Campbell since the age of 13, is certain the squad would be lifted by the expected appointment.

“If I was a Southend player right now I’d be really excited about Sol Campbell coming in,” said Clarke.

“I think it’s a good appointment and he showed what he could do when he took over at Macclesfield.

“It couldn’t really have been much tougher there. The players weren’t getting paid and I’m sure Sol wasn’t getting paid half the time either but he rolled his sleeves up and got stuck in.

“He kept them up and by all accounts he did it with them playing some decent football too. He did a great job and he definitely deserves another crack at it.”

Campbell took over at Macclesfield Town last November when the Silkmen were five points from safety at the foot of the League Two table.

But Clarke feels Campbell may have been hoping for an easier return to management.

“I’m sure Sol might have been holding out for a job elsewhere because he won’t want to end up with the reputation of being a firefighter in football,” said Clarke, who made 95 appearances for Blues between 1997 and 2000.

“He’s facing another tough task after the start Southend have made to the season but if he can keep them up his stock in the game will be really high.”

The Shrimpers have triumphed just once in 13 games so far this season and are currently eight points from safety, with the worst defensive record in the country.

But Clarke feels Campbell - who is expected to name Herman Hreidarsson as his assistant - has the skills to help Blues improve.

“Sol is one of England’s best ever defenders so he will know what’s needed at the back,” said Clarke.

“Southend have given away some very bad goals this season but Sol will get to grips with them and Herman is an ex-high profile defender too so they will soon get to work on them.”

And Clarke feels Andy Cole - who is in line to be striker coach - will make a similar impact at the other end of the field.

“If you’re a forward at Southend and you’re working with Andy Cole that will put a spring in your step,” said Clarke.

“The likes of Simon Cox, Tom Hopper and all of the strikers will be looking to impress him and they will be looking to pick his brains.

“I really do feel this is win-win for everyone and I also like the fact that Sol already knows the lower leagues so he can get to work straight away.”

And Clarke also believes Campbell has shown he can deal with taking charge of a dressing room.

“Sol is an unusual character and at times he does say some odd things but I don’t think he had any problems with the players at Macclesfield,” said Clarke, who now works as a football journalist.

“They only had good things to say about Sol so he’s shown he can work with lower league players too.”

Clarke came through the youth system at Arsenal before teaming up with Blues.

And it was while with the Gunners he got to know Campbell.

"I've known Sol since about the age of 13 and we would often play against each other in youth tem derbies between Arsenal and Spurs," said Clarke.

"We was a midfielder, then a striker before becoming a defender and he was just a man mountain.

"But he's worked for some top managers, including Arsene Wenger, so that can only be a good thing too."