Source: FOOTYMAD
Oldham Athletic's Darryl Flahaven on Shrimpers
Former Blues keeper Darryl Flahaven is on loan at Oldham and will face mixed feelings if his new side get the result that sends the Shrimpers down. "It's ironic how it's worked out but it's a real shame to see Southend struggling and it saddens me because I had a great time there," said the keeper who made 351 appearances during two seperate spells at Roots Hall. "I'm on loan at Oldham and I obviously want to do well for them but it will be bitter-sweet if we win because I know it will send Blues down. Who goes down is worked out over a whole season though, not just one game and things don't look to good for them right now." Such struggles are in stark contrast to Flahavan's time with the club. The keeper was originally signed by David Webb in October 2008 but it was under current Blues boss Steve Tilson that he enjoyed tremendous success. "I wouldn't swap my time at Southend for anything. It was fantastic and I felt incredibly fortunate to be a part of what was probably the most successful time in the club's history. We had a great team and a great squad and what we achieved by going from League Two to the Championship was unbelievable. We also had three trips to the Millennium Stadium, beat Manchester United, played Spurs and reached the quarter finals of the Carling Cup. You name it and we did it and the fans were always brilliant to me. I look forward to seeing them and giving them a big round of applause tomorrow but I just wish it was in different and much happier circumstances for them." Flahavan, who left Southend to join Crystal Palace in the summer of 2008, has followed Blues' progress since his departure. And he has been surprised to see the struggle this term. "I don't know what's gone on but it's the fans I feel sorry for. I felt the club were really in a position to kick on. When we came out of the Championship we were still a top six side in League One. I still feel we could've done just what teams like Blackpool, Scunthorpe and Doncaster have done if there had been more investment in the team. For whatever reason that hasn't happened and a lot of good players have been allowed to leave. Now it's a really sad state of affairs and it does seem as though Southend will be in League Two again next season which is very disappointing."
