PETER Taylor feels the National League may be a good place for Southend United to be able to rebuild.

The Shrimpers have fallen out of the Football League for the first time in 101 years after suffering back to back relegations.

But former Blues boss Taylor, who has managed in the National League, hopes Southend can start to turn things around.

“It’s doom and gloom for Southend because they’ve been relegated but it’s not a terrible place they’re going to,” said Taylor.

“In a way it might also be a good place for them to be able to rebuild but they’ve got to get themselves back right.

“It’s up to the owners and the bosses now to make the right decisions and hopefully they recruit the right way to give themselves a chance of having a good season.

“The National League isn’t terrible and there are some good clubs in there.

“If the crowd come back and the team are top of the table they will enjoy it.

“It will be a good atmosphere and I think they will be on the box a bit more with BT too.

“I think it could work to their advantage if they make the right recruitment.”

The Rochford born Taylor also lined up for Blues during his own playing career.

But the 68-year-old now feels the Shrimpers can learn from Sutton United who have been promoted from the National League this season.

“If you look at Sutton United, two years ago they were down towards the bottom and they weren’t right either,” said Taylor.

“They lost to Billericay in an FA Cup replay and I was at that game.

“I felt for the owners and the manager because they’re good people but blimey have they bounced back.

“They’ve done it by getting a lot of players who can cover the grass and have really good energy.

“They’ve signed a player on loan from Millwall who got them 13 or 14 goals.

“They’re organised, hungry and athletic but you need goalscorers.

“When I was in League Two or League One they always said get two strikers who can score and organise the other eight.

“It’s the old fashioned basic way, but it’s right.”

However, Taylor also knows it will be far from straight forward for the Shrimpers .

“It’s a tough league and if you’re not at it on the day then there’s a good chance you will get beaten,” said Taylor.

“You have to get the right balance of experience and you can’t go at it with just youngsters.

“You need a fit John White for 40 matches and you need that balance and some loan players from top clubs who want to do it.

“Top clubs these days will trust the National League.

“They think it’s a good experience for their players but two or three years ago they thought the level was too low but I don’t think they do anymore.”

And Taylor agrees improvements have been made.

“You’ll be surprised by the number of teams who try and play football now,” said Taylor.

“The National League used to be direct, 4-4-2, knock it in the corner and go for set pieces.

“It’s not like that anymore though and there are a lot of teams who look to play out from the back.

“There are some very big clubs at that level, there’s Notts County, Wrexham and Chesterfield and the fans will go to some decent stadiums.

“But it’s been sad to see Southend struggling and I hope they turn it around now.”