SOUTHEND United defender Ollie Kensdale is certain he can get back into the Football League with the Shrimpers.

Kensdale has committed his future to the club by signing a new deal which expires in the summer of 2026.

And Kensdale is confident he can fulfil his footballing ambitions with Blues.

“My personal aim is to get back into the league and I wouldn’t have committed myself to the club if I didn’t think I could do that here,” said Kensdale.

“I’m excited to push on and try make that happen in the next couple of years.”

Kensdale has started every match for the Shrimpers this season and has now made 96 appearances since signing from Concord Rangers in December 2021.

And the 23-year-old is delighted by the progress being made on and off the pitch at Roots Hall with the consortium close to taking charge.

“You can see the way the club is looking to go now and you actually see changes whereas before you’d be let down by false promises,” said Kensdale.

“Now promises are real and when you see them coming to fruition it means a lot because Southend isn’t a National League club.

“It should be in League One at least.

“It’s a massive club to play for and if you can take it back into the EFL I think it will be a great achievement for the boys and me.”

Kensdale has joined several of his team-mates in signing a new deal.

But it was the management team agreeing to stay which also played a big part in him putting pen to paper.

“The big factor for me was the manager, Daz (Darren Currie) and Benno (Mark Bentley) signing their contracts.

“The way we play suits me.

“Probably something I need to work on is being able to play in different types of teams but this team suits me down to the ground.

“It plays to my strengths and sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

“You could go to a league club and maybe not play in a style that suits you or brings out your best attributes.

“But here it does and if I did cut my time short here I’d always have thought what if I had stayed.”

And Blues have now come through the tough times which threatened their existence.

“The last few years have been a whirlwind and something I’ll never forget but it’s nice to be on the other end of it now,” said Kensdale.

“There’s going to be pressure but that’s what makes you as a footballer and you’ve got to thrive on it.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”