Southend United are on the lookout for a new manager after the club opted to part ways with club legend Kevin Maher on 19th May.
The decision to sack Maher, who made over 350 appearances for the club in his professional playing days before returning as manager in October of 2021, came just two days after they defeated Wealdstone on penalties at Wembley Stadium to win the FA Trophy.
Maher led the Shrimpers to the National League play-offs for a second successive season in the 2025/26 campaign, but they fell short to Scunthorpe in the quarter-finals to eliminate their hopes of returning to the EFL.
Chairman Justin Rees has proclaimed that the club have "got a shortlist" of managers drawn up to succeed Maher, and we take a look at who the potential candidates could be to enter the Roots Hall dugout.
Kieron Dyer
Kieron Dyer is the latest name to emerge as the frontrunner for the Southend vacancy.
The former Ipswich Town and Newcastle United winger is currently a first-team coach at Chesterfield where he has supported Andy Cook for the previous two seasons.
Dyer first ventured into coaching at Ipswich's academy in 2014 following his retirement from professional football and climbed the ladder to become the club's U23s head coach in 2020.
With a wealth of coaching experience, Dyer's been itching to sample management and the Shrimpers could be set to award him with his first managerial gig.
Adam Hinshelwood
Adam Hinshelwood is reportedly amongst the names being considered to succeed Maher at Southend United.
The 42-year-old returned to manage Worthing in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign, guiding the club back to the National League with a National League South-winning term that saw his side accumulate 84 points.
It remains to be seen as to whether Hinshelwood would trade one National League outfit for another, especially due to his strong affiliation with Worthing, but Southend's seemed ambition to return to the fourth tier of English football after two near misses may appeal to the Oxford-born manager.
Ian Watson
Football Insider journalist Pete O'Rourke took to X to report that South Shields manager Ian Watson "has emerged as the lead candidate for the Southend United Head Coach position".
Watson joined the Tyne and Wear outfit in May 2025 and led the club to an impressive second placed finish in the 2025/26 National League North campaign, narrowly missing out on the title before falling to a 2-0 defeat against Kidderminster Harriers in the play-off final.
South Shields boasted the best defensive record in the league last term whilst still managing to find the net on 99 occasions, and Watson's front-footed, yet adaptable style of football may appeal to those making the decisions at Southend.
Mat Sadler
Rightfully described by many as a sleeping giant, Southend have to approach their next managerial appointment with ambition and former Walsall boss Mat Sadler presents an intriguing option.
Sadler eased himself into the Walsall hotseat with an 11th-placed finish in his first full season at the helm, falling just five points short of a play-off spot, and the first half of their subsequent 2024/25 campaign prompted suggestions that they would win League Two with games to spare.
The Saddlers enjoyed a 16-game unbeaten run in the fourth tier and sat clear at the top at the halfway stage, but a capitulation saw them win just three of their last 21 league games, dropping to fourth and losing the play-off final 1-0 to AFC Wimbledon.
They endued a similar demise 2025/26 and Sadler was sacked in March following a run of just one win in eleven matches that left the club 11th in the table.
In spite of Sadler's sacking, he is clearly a talented young manager and he may be keen to get his career back on track by dropping down a level to manage in the National League.
