SOUTHEND United legend Ian Benjamin feels his former Shrimpers team-mate Steve Tilson should be given another chance at Roots Hall.

Tilson bossed Blues between 2003 and 2010, leading them to two successive promotions.

And Benjamin would love to see Tilson back in charge.

“I feel that Steve Tilson deserves another chance as he stayed loyal to Southend when others came calling and also had success, taking the club up twice,” said Benjamin.

“He would also have watched some of the games this season and will have a good idea of what he would be coming into.”

Financial problems led to Blues being relegated from League One in Tilson’s last season in charge and he has since spent time in charge of Lincoln City, Canvey Island and C&K Basildon Ladies.

But Tilson now heads up the football academy at South Essex College and Benjamin finds it hard to believe the 53-year-old is not involved with the professional game.

“I cannot believe that he has not been able to get a job in football after the success that he had,” said Benjamin, who scored 38 goals in 139 games while with Blues.

“Hopefully that can change soon.”

Tilson has been linked alongside Adam Barrett as the next Blues boss.

But if chairman Ron Martin does look elsewhere then Benjamin would like to see former England defender Sol Campbell appointed after he managed to keep Macclesfield Town in League Two last season.

“Out of all the others that have been touted I would go for Sol Campbell,” said Benjamin.

“The job he did at Macclesfield should not be underestimated.

“They had no money and were bottom of the League when he went in but he got them off the bottom and saved them from going down.

“They then had a good start to the season before he left too.”

The Shrimpers are on the lookout for a new boss after Kevin Bond’s decision to resign following a disastrous start to the season.

Blues, who host Fleetwood Town at Roots Hall this weekend, have been beaten in their opening six games of the League One campaign and have yet to pick up a single point.

But former Blues skipper Anton Ferdinand believes Adam Barrett is the man to help the club get back on track.

Ferdinand tweeted: “There’s only one man for the Southend job and that’s Adam Barrett.

“He’s what the club needs.

“He knows what it takes to play for the club and will bring stability.”

Barrett made 354 appearances during his playing career for Blues and is currently first team coach at Millwall.

The 39-year-old also remains the favourite for the Shrimpers job with the bookmakers.