RICKY Holmes is determined to extend his stay with Southend United, in League Two.

The experienced winger has signed for the Shrimpers until the end of the season.

And the 33-year-old, who is in the Blues squad for tomorrow’s trip to Oldham Athletic, is desperate to help Mark Molesley’s side avoid relegation.

“I’m loving it playing for Southend,” said Holmes.

“I’m looking to be in this League again next season and signing another contract with the club too.

“I want to see out my career here at my boyhood club which is what I always wanted to do.”

Holmes grew up supporting the Shrimpers and made his first start for the club in the 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night.

But, with his match fitness now starting to improve, Holmes is desperate to play a leading part in Southend staying up.

“I don’t want getting my hometown club relegated on my CV and I’ll be pulling out all the stops and pulling the boys along with me in the right direction to make sure that doesn’t happen,” said Holmes.

“We’ve got more than enough to get out of trouble too.

“Everyone is pulling in the right direction, the manager works tirelessly and we’re in a position where we can get ourselves out of danger.”

The Shrimpers currently sit 22nd in the League Two standings, two points and one place above the relegation zone having played two games more than the two teams still below them in the table.

But Holmes is eager to extend that gap by helping Blues to produce an improved attacking display against Oldham this weekend.

“The more minutes I get the better I’ll get and I can prove my worth too,” said Holmes.

“I want to push on and do what I’ve done all my career which is scoring goals and getting assists.

“I’m sure that’s what the team have been missing and it was a big plus for me to get 60 minutes on Tuesday.”

Holmes was unable to stop the Shrimpers suffering a narrow defeat against the table-topping Cheltenham.

But the winger has been encouraged by Blues’ displays against some of the top teams in the League.

“It’s been a hard one to come in to because everyone we’ve played has been towards the top of the table so far since I’ve been here,” said Holmes.

“But we’ve shown we can compete with anyone in this League so the confidence in the camp is high off the back of that.

“We’re playing a team on Saturday who are just below mid-table so we have to go there with the confidence that we can go and get three points.”

Oldham are currently 17th in the table and Holmes is hoping the Latics style of play will enable the Shrimpers to triumph.

“I speak to Nicky Adams who went in there as captain in January and he’s said they play open, expansive football,” said Holmes.

“We don’t do that but if we can shut up shop like we have done against the better sides hopefully we can create the chances at the other end.

“We have to get that balance right.

“We have to be hard to beat but also be a threat at the other end and this could be the perfect game for us to do so.