KEVIN Maher insists the time is right for him to return to Southend United.

Maher, who spent 10 years with the Shrimpers as a player, has now come back to the club as head coach.

And the 44-year-old is delighted to be back.

“It’s brilliant and it feels right,” said Maher.

“Sometimes it’s come up before and it hasn’t felt the same.

“But it fits in with me now and I can get home to my wife, kids and family too.

“I’ve been away for two and a half years and it’s disappointing to see where the club is now.

“But I think I can help and I have a desire to win football matches for the club.”

Blues are currently 20th in the National League standings.

But Maher is no stranger to tough times having bounced back from a difficult start to his playing spell with the Shrimpers.

“I had a tough time when I first came here and I had to work hard to win people around but that makes the good times even better,” said Maher.

“The club are in a position now where it is struggling but there’s enough here.

“I believe in the club and what’s here to turn it around.

“It’s not going to happen overnight but we can work hard together and with everyone pulling in the right direction things can change.”

Maher previously spent close to four years coaching Blues’ under 23 side before making the switch to Bristol Rovers where he was part of the first team set up.

But Maher has now left the Pirates to come back to the Shrimpers where he feels the right structure is now being put in place.

“Whatever has gone on before has happened and we can’t change that,” said Maher.

“Tom (Lawrence) is in the building now and he’s working hard behind the scenes.

“If you put the right structures in place it will help the club and all that leads me to think it’s the right time.”

Maher has been joined at Blues by assistant head coach Darren Currie and first team coach Mark Bentley.

And Maher is delighted with his backroom team.

“Darren I was at Dagenham when he started his coaching and we’ve stayed in touch,” said Maher.

“I saw how he did at Barnet and he knows the league well.

“He knows some of our players we’ve got too which helps.

“Benno is a brilliant guy, he’s been doing brilliantly at Canvey and he has knowledge of the local area.

“To have them on board is brilliant and they’re going to be so important for me.”

And Maher believes a collective effort is needed to turn things around.

“We’re going to work together and we’re going to work hard to get some positivity around the place,” said the 44-year-old.

“Hopefully the players will respond and play with some freedom.”

Blues have been beaten in five of their last six league games.

But Maher is still keen for the Shrimpers to be on the front foot.

“The club I feel has always been about attacking players,” said Maher.

“Freddy, Stan himself, Benji and Crowny.

“Wingers like Ricky Otto and I played with Gower and they’re the type of players who have brought success to the club.

“I’ll refer back to that and if we can get that going then see what happens.”

And it will all start for Maher away at Dagenham & Redbridge this weekend.

“It will be a tough game and Darryl (McMahon) has done brilliantly there but it’s a good local one to begin with,” said Maher.

“We’ll pack it out I’m sure though and hopefully we can give the fans something to cheer.