2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Southend United

Player Decisions

Retain

Sam Austin, Harry Boyes, Ben Goodliffe, Slavi Spasov, Oli Coker, Harry Taylor, Charley Kendall, Harry Cardwell, Jack Stone

Release

Tom Hopper, Cav Miley, James Morton, Josh Walker, George Wind

Lose

Gus Scott-Morriss, Jack Bridge, Nathan Ralph, Keenan Appiah-Forson, Noor Husin, Joe Gubbins, Colin Andeng-Ndi

Loan Out

Slavi Spasov, Jack Stone

Sell

Leon Parillon

Loan End

Andrew Dallas, James Golding, Owen Mason, Alfie Massey, Noah Mawene

Sign

Josh Popoola, Anthony Hartigan, Darren Oldaker

Retained Squad

New Signings

Jack Sims (Sutton United – free)

The first player that I have included on this list is one that most Southend United fans are already expecting to rock up at Roots Hall this summer and that is former Sutton United goalkeeper Jack Sims. With Colin Andeng Ndi moving on into the Football League, Kieron Dyer will need to sign a new #1 and I think that Sims would represent the ideal candidate for that. 

While you could argue that Sims has had his fair share of action and workload during his time with Sutton United and as a result subjected to a high volume of shots, the 27-year-old has shown that he is a competent shot-stopper with good reflexes, an agile goalkeeper that is quick in coming out to engage the opposition striker and gets down really well. That is one thing that I think some of the top goalkeepers in the league perhaps don’t have in terms of his ability to get down quickly, and Andeng-Ndi was certainly a better shot-stopper up high than he is down low. Sims is one that gets down smartly. 

The former Sutton United man is not the biggest goalkeeper in the league, but he commands his penalty area fairly well, progressive and nimble in coming off his line, and the type of player that comes for crosses with a good leap. He has had time out through injury, but I think that he is still a complete and well-rounded goalkeeper. 

One of the things that I particularly like about Sims is the fact that he has done well in two sides, both of whom have differing defensive foundations. At Braintree Town, they were defensively rigid and protected their goal well, and he demonstrated good awareness and concentration in always being on hand to keep out the opposition despite perhaps not being tested as frequently as others. On the other hand, he has shown that he has got the intensity in his play to be worked continuously with Sutton United, quick at getting back up on his feet and he is able to organise effectively between saves.

One of the major attractions as to why Sims could – and perhaps should – be the new #1 for Southend United is the fact that the goalkeeper is originally from Southend, and so signing for Kieron Dyer provides him with the opportunity to go back home. 

During his time at Sutton United, Sims has developed a reputation for being one of the best goalkeepers in the fifth tier and so it wouldn’t surprise me if he had a lot of offers for his signature this summer. However, United have already flexed their muscle in signing Anthony Hartigan and Darren Oldaker out of the Football League and they mean business this season. Sims is the caliber of goalkeeper that would definitely be a bit of a coup if they were able to land him, but I feel it would be a major statement.

Devan Tanton (Fulham – free)

One defensive option that I would look at signing in the off season is Devan Tanton. Released by Fulham at the end of the campaign, the youngster will be looking for a new permanent home in which to play his football. Given that Dyer already has a relationship with Tanton from their time working together at Chesterfield, I think that Tanton could be a viable option for Southend United to sign. 

As a profile, Tanton is a right-back by trade, yet if The Blues play a back three then I think he is more than suited to play wide right of a three. United have got a no-nonsense, industrious centre-back already in the form of Ben Goodliffe, and so I think that they should be looking to find a younger, more mobile, ball-playing centre-back that can go alongside him and I feel that Tanton has got suitable all-round skillsets such that he can play that role.

The majority of his minutes have come as a wing-back, and in many ways he is a good stylistic replacement for Scott-Morriss that they lost given that Tanton is similarly a high-energy, powerful, pacy wing-back that looks to get forward at every opportunity. Scott-Morriss used to have his trademark runs on the outside as an outlet in transition in supporting the attacking play, and I think that Tanton can provide those same skillsets. Kieron Dyer talked about how he wanted his side to play an attacking brand of football, and so having full-backs that are in the ‘modern day mould’ is going to be key for that. 

One of the advantages as to why I think Tanton is such a good option for The Blues to sign is that he represents a composite option, in that he is capable of playing in a number of different roles. With United seeing both Gus Scott-Morriss and George Wind depart the club this summer, they need to sign two right-backs and so Tanton is capable of providing competition as a right-back, and also being used makeshift as a centre-back. 

If I was Kieron Dyer, I would look at Tanton as having the potential to be a bit of a project to turn into a centre-back long-term, as he is quick, agile, can play in a high line, and is technically strong such that he can be the centre-back to step out into midfield and get attacks going. While we are yet to see Dyer’s side in action, he has hinted at the fact that he wants his side to be forward-thinking, play at speed and be offensively strong, and so I think having a right centre-back such as Tanton with a right-back in Aaron Drewe could work quite nicely in forming a makeshift back three when they’ve got the ball. 

Regardless, I think that Tanton is an attractive option for The Blues to sign. He has played in the Football League, of a good age, out of a strong academy, worked with Dyer previously, and has got good underlying physical and technical attributes. United will be looking to be ambitious in the summer, and so I think that despite Tanton having last played his football in League Two with Chesterfield he could represent a nice option for The Blues.

Walker Shabazz-Edwards (Ipswich Town – loan)

One centre-back that I would look at signing if I were Kieron Dyer is Ipswich Town youngster Walker Shabazz-Edwards. With Dyer having coached at Ipswich Town, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him utilise his links with The Tractorboys in securing a young player on loan from Portman Road, and so I would try to negotiate Shabazz-Edwards’ signature. 

Shabazz-Edwards was signed in 2025 by The Tractorboys after an impressive campaign with non-league side Brightlingsea Regent. The young centre-back is yet to have exposure to first-team football at any level higher than that with which he was at Brightlingsea Regent, and so I think that the youngster would require a little bit of development in adjusting to the full-time game. Yet, as a profile for Dyer to develop, I feel that the Tractorboys defender could be worth consideration. 

In terms of his attributes, Shabazz-Edwards is a physically imposing, aerially dominant centre-back that is a strong box defender. Despite only being 19 years of age, the youngster is 6ft 7in and so represents a good option in terms of physical skillsets. I feel that he is a good all-round profile for a defender, as he couples these underlying physical attributes with the ability to play out, is composed on the ball, and is very much a ‘modern day’ defender. 

One of the things that I would look for from a young signing is the exposure to men’s football at an early age, and so the fact that Shabazz-Edwards made his non-league bow at Ilford at the age of just 16 is a good indicator. The fact that he has played academy football since 2025 and played in an environment that I feel is typically slower and more technically-biased may not have benefitted his development, and so I think that he needs to get back to developing that aggression and physicality to his game. 

Dyer is making his first bow as a manager at the level, and so it remains to be seen as to what system he opts to set the team up in. If they play a three, I feel that Shabazz-Edwards is a good fit for playing in the center of the back three as the aerial aggressor to go and engage attacking players. In a four, I think he represents the right centre-back profile to partner Ben Goodliffe given that he has got the height and aerial proficiency to defend his box, yet can be the more advanced of the two in stepping out into midfield, playing out and be the one player that can progress the ball forward.

If I am in The Tractorboys’ position, I would be looking to identify the right loan opportunity for Shabazz-Edwards to go and play first-team football next year. With Town now back in the top flight, I feel that the youngster’s prospects of football at Portman Road is going to be incredibly slim, and I feel that going and having a season in the National League would do him the world of good in terms of his game. Dyer would likely be at the front of the queue for his signature going into 2026-27 given that he has links with The Tractorboys, and so I feel it would be a good move for both parties.

Aaron Drewe (Woking – free)

The one position that Southend United are going to have to focus efforts on in the off season in terms of strengthening is at right-back. Popular figure Gus Scott-Morriss has departed the club to join Oldham Athletic, and replacing him is going to be no easy feat. One player that I think they could look at is Aaron Drewe. 

Drewe decided to move on from fellow National League side Woking at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, and I am expecting that he will either join a team at the top end of the National League or move into the Football League. As a replacement for Scott-Morriss, I think that the 25-year-old represents a sensible option if they could land him given that he is – in my opinion – a top-end, National League operator that has got the skillsets to provide Southend United with the stylistic qualities that United had with Scott-Morriss. 

Kieron Dyer has set his stall out that his side are going to look to dominate the ball and play an attacking brand of football, and I think that Drewe is well-suited to this. The full-back may only be a diminutive customer, yet he uses this to his advantage as he can provide his side with a forward-thinking, efficient ball-carrier that steps onto the play and drives the ball forward from deep. He is a dynamic runner, covers ground quickly, has a nice turn of pace, and is technically strong with the quick feet to navigate himself out of tight spaces. 

When The Blues had Gus Scott-Morris in the side, they very much relied on his attacking endeavour on the right-hand side in always getting forward and providing an outlet in wide areas. I actually think that Drewe is capable of providing more in an attacking sense that he did – or perhaps was afforded to – during his time with Woking, and if utilised correctly then I think that he can be a real threat with his pace and agility. 

One thing that has particularly impressed me with Drewe in the last 12-18 months is the development in his game, and the maturity with which he plays. Given that he isn’t the biggest physically, he has prided his defending on the strength of his positioning, ready of the game and in the strength of his recovery runs and speed in defending 1v1. 

After impressing with The Cards, I think that he will be in fairly high demand and so it would be a flex of United’s ambition if they are able to land him. If I was in Kieron Dyer’s position, I would go all out to try and land his signature.

Tarryn Allarakhia (Rochdale – free)

Regardless of what system Southend United plays under Kieron Dyer, one area in which I think that they need to strengthen is in the wide attacking positions. One player that has become available since the end of the 2025-26 campaign after being let go by promoted side Rochdale is Tanzanian international Tarryn Allarakhia. 

After being let go by The Dale, I expect that he will likely end up signing for a club at the top end of the National League. Kieron Dyer has already talked about how he wants to go and win promotion from the National League this season with The Blues, and so I think that adding a previous promotion-winner to the group is only going to be advantageous in allowing them to go and scale similar heights this coming season. Indeed, having a nucleus of players within the group that know how to win is key. 

I think that Allarakhia provides real value for The Blues given that he is capable of playing in a number of different roles. With Rochdale, he played largely as a wing-back wide of a four in a 3-4-2 system. Prior to joining The Dale, Allarakhia played predominantly as an out-and-out winger and so whether they stick with the wing-back system that they employed under Kevin Maher or if they play with a 4-2-3-1 then he can play wide left. 

In terms of his attributes, the Tanzanian international is an incredible athlete, is a powerful runner, with good energy against the ball and is the type of player that wants to commit the opposition and drive the ball to goal. When I have watched United in the past few years under Kevin Maher, I feel that – particularly off the left-hand side – they have lacked players that want to run with the ball in the same way that Gus Scott-Morriss has done so well off the right-hand side, and so Allarakhia would give them that profile off the left. He is quick, inventive, direct and provides United natural width. 

One of the other factors as to why I like Allarakahia as a potential signing for Southend United is his character. I think that the United squad has gotten a little flat in the last 12-18 months, and I feel that as Dyer tries to put his own stamp on the side then adding one or two different personalities to the group that can bring a freshness is going to be key. Allarakhia has always stood out to me as being a hugely likeable character with a great energy about him, and is someone that endears himself to the crowd. I think that a major part of United being able to go from being play-off contenders to winning the league – as they aim to do – next season is about having that feel-good factor that I’d say was perhaps not at the end of Maher’s tenure, and so I think Allarakhia would help in this regard. 

Fundamentally, Allarakahia is a proven wide player with previous promotion experience, of a good age, and a strong physical profile. For me, he ticks a number of the boxes. Signing him would stop their rival clubs from doing so, and if he doesn’t end up with United then it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if he ends up signing for a club that are similarly vying for promotion from the National League in 2026-27. On a free transfer, I think that he is a bit of a no-brainer for Dyer to sign.

Ronan Darcy (Wigan Athletic – fee)

The Blues have already made two ‘marquee’ signings this summer in the form of Anthony Hartigan and Darren Oldaker, yet I think that Dyer will look to make one or two more signings of the calibre that can elevate the group from being top 7 contenders to being title contenders. One player I think that United could target as a potential signing ahead of the new season is Wigan Athletic’s Ronan Darcy. 

With a technical tempo-setter in Anthony Hartigan and progressive passer in Darren Oldaker, I feel that United need to sign a player that has got the energy to make late runs from deep, break the lines and with an eye for goal. I think that the 25-year-old is a strong stylistic fit for this role. He is most effective as a #10 where he can play in the half-spaces, on the turn, and getting shots off. He can play wide or centrally, and so he provides The Blues with versatility regardless of system. 

I am expecting that we may see Southend United set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and so that will require an athletic, high-energy, runner that can get beyond the play. When I have watched United, I think that they have lacked that player that can contribute in the scoring stakes. They’ve had Leon Chambers-Parillon that has played as inside #10 predominantly off the left-hand side, yet they’ve lacked that player that can get on the end of things and make late runs into the box. Darcy can provide that.

Having watched Darcy over the last few years, I think that the midfielder is the type of player that needs a manager to give him the confidence to back him and put an arm round him. When he is a bit part and rotated figure, I feel that he won’t perform. Yet, under a manager that can entrust him to go and play and with strong man-management, I think you’ll get a completely different player. Dyer is someone that prides himself on good interpersonal skills, and I feel that he could be the right manager to give Darcy a chance. Darcy is at the point in his career that he needs a manager to properly invest in him and give him a new lease of life as a player, and so I think that Roots Hall could be the right new home. 

After falling short in the last two years, I am expecting that The Blues will ‘push the boat out’ in the summer to try and go for the title. Darcy is still contracted to Wigan Athletic going into 2026-27, and so with a move likely this summer for the midfielder I think that he is the calibre of player that Southend United should make if they are to go one better.

Luke Butterfield (Chesterfield – fee)

The second midfielder on this list that I have picked out as a potential signing for Kieron Dyer to make going into 2026-27 is youngster Luke Butterfield. Dyer gave up a role with Chesterfield in order to land the job in charge of Southend United, and so it wouldn’t surprise me if he was to return to his former side and sign a player. If they do, I think Luke Butterfield could be worth a look.

Despite being contracted to Chesterfield going into 2026-27, I think that Paul Cook may well look to let the youngster leave the club if they get the right offer as he is likely surplus to requirements. If he does let him go, I think that Cook may well be persuaded to listen to an offer from Kieron Dyer given the existing relationship that they have got in enabling Dyer to potentially land the youngster for an affordable price. 

Callum Morton, Noor Husin, Keenan Appiah-Forson and Cav Miley have all left the club already this summer, and I am expecting that Leon Chambers-Parillon will likely depart the club before the start of 2026-27 given that he is subject of interest from a higher level. Even despite signing Anthony Hartigan and Darren Oldaker already, I feel that United will be looking to add another two midfielders and so Butterfield might be worth a look. 

As a profile, Butterfield is a technical #10 that can play between the lines, receive the ball on the turn and has got a delicate weight of pass. The Blues need that little bit more open play creativity to break teams down, and so I like the look of Butterfield as an option for that. He has the delicacy to receive the ball in tight spaces, play forward and has got a good awareness in picking passes through the lines. 

I think that he is most effective playing as a #10 in front of two deeper-lying tempo-setters, as I don’t feel that he is suited to the combative nature of playing deeper. When he is playing closer to the opposition goal and has got the freedom to pick up clever pockets of space, I feel that is where he provides the most value for The Blues. In this regard, I think that he is the type of profile that they don’t have currently, and so he allows them to be more effective against the ball in breaking teams down. 

In terms of the type of player that I would shell out a fee for, Butterfield has got the requisite ticks. He is only 22 years of age, and so is the type of player that Dyer is capable of developing on a long-term deal. He is out of a good academy at Everton, and has had a good technical grounding. I think that there is definitely work to do in terms of his physical development, but if you can get him to bulk up physically and develop that aggression in his game I feel that you have got a very talented player.

Elias Kachunga (Cambridge United – free)

One profile that I would be looking to add during the summer if I were Kieron Dyer is experience and knowhow at the top end of the pitch. More importantly, I feel that they perhaps lack that natural width, and so adding a winger – especially if they are to go to a 4-2-3-1 – would be useful. One player that I’d consider as a potential signing having been let go at the end of the campaign by Cambridge United is Elias Kachunga. 

Kachunga is now 34 years of age, and so I don’t feel that dropping down into the National League would be overly ambitious for Kieron Dyer to navigate. He comes off the back of a campaign with Cambridge United in which he won promotion out of League Two, and so he is another that buys into the culture of putting together a squad that knows how to win and be in successful dressing rooms. He has equally been in a Bolton Wanderers group that won the EFL Trophy and won promotion at Huddersfield Town, and so I think adding a player with the experience of Kachunga is key. 

As a profile, Kachunga is a quick, powerful and direct winger that has got explosive running power in driving into space and stretching teams. I think that he is equally effective playing off the right-hand side in providing an option on the overlap on the outside, yet he can play off the left and drive onto his stronger right and get shots off. Playing off of a physical #9 in Harry Cardwell, I feel that Kachunga has got the nimble movement and intricacy in tight spaces such that he could work effectively as a #10. 

They have already signed Josh Popoola so far this summer and so Elias Kachunga might not be a guaranteed starter for Southend United from the off, but in terms of adding an experienced and versatile option to the attacking arsenal that can provide that extra bit of quality and strong decision-making in key moments then I think he would be a sensible capture. It remains to be seen whether or not he will get another opportunity in the Football League, but I feel that dropping down to be part of an exciting new project for United under Kieron Dyer in trying to get them promoted into the Football League may be of interest.