BEN Coker will be at Roots Hall in spirit when Southend United host Lincoln City tomorrow.

Coker swapped the Shrimpers for the Imps in the summer.

But the left-back will not be featuring in Saturday’s clash as he bids to secure first team football elsewhere.

“I’m back fit now but a new manager has come in and we’ve agreed I need to go elsewhere to get some games,” said Coker.

“Football is a crazy game and you can never be sure what will happen but I’ll certainly be at Roots Hall in spirit tomorrow.

“I’m with Lincoln now so I obviously hope we win but I’m so sad to see what’s happening at Southend.

“I still speak to the lads there and it’s such a difficult time for them.”

Coker made 208 appearances during a six-year spell with the Shrimpers.

And he will never forget the part the club played in his career.

“I loved my time at Southend and I’ll forever be grateful for the chance they gave me,” said Coker.

“I’ll always be grateful to Phil Brown and Ron Martin for giving me a chance in League football when no-one else would.

“I can still remember the moment after we played Braintree in pre-season that Phil Brown told me they would be signing me and I'd like to think I repaid them with some decent performances.

"It was an up and down time but there were many more ups.

“Winning promotion at Wembley was obviously the highlight and I don’t think that will ever be topped.

“Obviously it was sad the way it ended with the injury but I’ll always look out for Southend’s scores and I class myself as a fan now to be honest."

Coker was also held in high regard by Blues' fans and he was thrilled to see them pick him for the club's team of the decade which was decided by a number of Echosport polls.

"It was really nice to see that and I'd like to say thank you for everyone who voted because it definitely meant a lot to me to be picked as the left-back," said Coker.

"When you look at the team there are some proper players in there so for me to be alongside them is nice."

However, the current Southend side are struggling to stay in League One.

But Coker does not know why things have gone so badly wrong for Blues.

“I’m not sure what's happened but they got rid of some players who gave everything for the club,” said Coker.

“Recruitment has probably not been as good as we would all like but I really do wish the club well and hope they can rebuild and go again.

"I look out for every Southend result and I hate to see how it's going at the moment."