DEAN Ashton feels Southend United boss Kevin Bond is better off working as an assistant manager.

Bond has lost all six of his League One matches with the Shrimpers this season.

And Ashton – a former West Ham United and Norwich City striker - feels the 62-year-old is more suited to working alongside a manager.

“Sometimes you are just a number two and you’re great at it,” said Ashton, speaking on Quest TV.

“That’s where he should be as an assistant because it’s clearly not working for him as a manager.”

Blues have yet to pick up a point this season and former Swindon Town striker Sam Parkin would be surprised to see Bond remain at Roots Hall.

“It’s going to be tough for Kevin Bond to keep his job,” said Parkin.

“I think it’s 26 games since they kept a clean sheet and they’ve conceded 17 goals already this season.

“I’ve lost count of the number of players he’s tried to play in the defence and on Saturday there were three front players in the team and they still couldn’t get themselves on the score-sheet.”