STEVE Tilson is hoping for a successful sixth anniversary as manager of Southend United.

The 43-year-old today becomes just the sixth Blues boss to ever reach the landmark.

And he hopes to celebrate in style by beating MK Dons at Roots Hall tonight.

“On the whole it’s been a great six years and it would be great to mark it with a win this evening,” said Tilson.

“There have been more ups than downs during my times in charge and I have some great memories from being the manager.

“Hopefully I can still be in charge for at least another six years too and we can go on to achieve even more success.”

Tilson first took charge of the Shrimpers, originally as caretaker manager, exactly six years ago today.

Two days after his appointment, which followed the departure of Steve Wignall and then previous caretaker David Webb, Blues beat Rochdale 4-0 at Roots Hall.

And a run of more good results then led to Tilson being made manager on a permanent basis.

“I remember that Rochdale game well but at the time I didn’t expect to be manager for much longer,” said Tilson.

“I was in charge of the youth team and I don’t know if I was the first choice for the first team job at that point because it’s something I’ve never asked the chairman.

“Things went well though which put a bit of pressure on him and he gave me the job, which was great.”

Since then, Tilson has led the Shrimpers to two promotions and two LDV Vans Trophy finals at the Millennium Stadium.

He is therefore regarded by many to be Blues’ best ever manager but things have been tough for him this term.

The club’s current financial concerns have left him with limited options for most of the campaign but he has been boosted by the return of Johnny Herd for tonight’s game.

He looks set to start at left-back after recovering from a hamstring problem.

And Tilson is keen to secure his first ever victory over the Dons, who easily knocked Blues out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy earlier on this season.

“That was the game which has disappointed me the most so far this season,” said Tilson.

“There was a real lack of effort from us and it wasn’t acceptable.

“Hopefully we can make amends tonight and bounce back from the frustrating defeat at Yeovil.”

Blues will be missing Sean Morrison, who serves a one match suspension, meaning Anthony Grant is likely to continue in defence.

Southend United (from): Mildenhall, Grant, Francis, Barrett, Herd, Laurent, McCormack, Christophe, Moussa, Barnard, Freedman, Walker, Scannell, Joyce, O’Keefe and Asante.

l Blues youth team are in action tomorrow as they travel to Aldershot Town, kick off 11am.

JOHNNY Herd feels he has an 80 per cent chance of being fit for Friday’s clash with MK Dons.

The left-back missed last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Yeovil Town with a hamstring injury.

But he now hopes to be nearing a return to action.

“The aim is to be fit for the game on Friday and that’s what we’re working towards,” said Herd, 20.

“At the moment I would say I’m about 80 per cent certain of being involved but I will have a proper fitness test today and we will know more after that.

“I can still feel some pain but I’ve done a few sprints and come through that fine so hopefully I will be able to join in with training tomorrow and then be fit for Friday.”

Herd sustained the injury during the 3-0 defeat in the opening round of the FA Cup at Gillingham 11 days ago.

He originally expected to be out for at least for a month but is now facing a shorter spell on the sidelines.

“It was a bit amateur of me to say I was going to be out that long before I had even gone for the scans,” said Herd.

“They showed there wasn’t a tear so instead of looking at being out for around four to six weeks it’s looking more like one or two which is obviously good news.”

Herd’s impending return will also be welcomed by manager Steve Tilson who currently has just two fit defenders in his small squad – Simon Francis and Adam Barrett.

Anthony Grant and Jean Francois Christophe, who are naturally midfielders, have been forced to switch into the back four.

But, despite those problems, Herd will not be rushed back into the starting line-up.

“You have to be sensible about it and I won’t play on Friday if I’m not fully ready,” said Herd.

“The hamstring is a main muscle in your leg so you have to be careful. I don’t want to come back too soon then completely pull it because then I would probably be out until after Christmas “That’s why we are taking it a day at time but hopefully I will be OK to play against MK Dons.”

Stephen Vaughan has become the first owner of a professional football club required to reduce his shareholding because, according to FA rules, he is no longer a "fit and proper person". Vaughan, a Liverpool businessman who bought the Conference club Chester City in 2001 and owns 100% of the shares, was last week disqualified from acting as a director of any company until November 2020, following his involvement in a �500,000 VAT fraud.

The FA's rules, which apply to Conference clubs, state that anybody disqualified as a company director cannot hold 30% or more of a club's shares. The FA will write to Vaughan requiring him to sell or give up his majority stake in City within 21 days of the disqualification taking effect on 25 November. If he does not comply, the club could ultimately be expelled from the Conference.

Relegated from the Football League last season and in administration over the summer, City already have the threat of expulsion hanging over them, unless they pay money owed to the Professional Footballers' Association, Wrexham and Vauxhall Motors FC by 30 November.

According to an undertaking Vaughan signed with the Insolvency Service, he committed the VAT fraud while a director of Widnes Vikings rugby league club, which was then in administration, in October 2007. It stated that he "caused" Widnes to buy clothes from a UK company in three transactions worth �2.9m, plus VAT of �505,265.

Payment for the clothes was not made to "the alleged supplier", but to an account at the First Cura�ao International Bank, based in the Netherlands Antilles. The clothes were sold on the same day to a company based in Spain; overseas buyers do not have to pay VAT, and Vaughan tried to reclaim the �505,265 for the club from HM Revenue and Customs.

HMRC refused to pay, and proceedings were begun against Vaughan which led to him admitting the transactions were a "carousel" in which the VAT was fraudulently claimed from HMRC.

In a statement, the FA said: "We are aware of the Insolvency Service decision and will be taking necessary steps under the requirements of the fit and proper person test."

The case could test the rules' effectiveness, however, because according to City's managing director, Bob Gray, Vaughan may hand the shares to one of his sons. "He has to relinquish his shares," Gray acknowledged, "but who he gives them to is up to him. He could keep them within the family." If that happened, the FA would have to be satisfied that Vaughan was not still "exercising direct or indirect control" over the club's affairs, which the rules prohibit for somebody declared not "fit and proper".

AFTER a 1-0 victory over Southend United at Huish Park on Saturday, Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton stopped short of calling Dean Bowditch his "fox-in-the-box" – but he clearly believes that the returning goal hero will make a big difference to the Glovers in the remainder of this Coca-Cola League One campaign.

Bowditch scored on his Town debut against Tranmere on the opening day of the season but then spent three months out of action after dislocating his shoulder. He made his comeback ahead of schedule against Southend – and scored within seven minutes of coming on as a substitute.

"That's two goals in 75 minutes now, not that I'm counting!" joked Bowditch after his dramatic introduction. "It was the perfect way to come back after so long out and the script just seemed to be written for me.

"I was just in the right place at the right time and the ball hit my bad shoulder on its way into the net, which is a bit ironic."

Yeovil have missed Bowditch's clinical finishing during his enforced absence and wasted a string of opportunities on Saturday before the former Ipswich Town marksman broke the deadlock.

Skiverton was excited at the prospect of fielding the 23-year-old in his Yeovil line-up before the start of the season, only to be robbed of his services when he fell awkwardly under a challenge from Tranmere's Shaleum Logan.

Bowditch's return ahead of schedule will finally allow the Glovers to call on the man the manager claims is the most natural goalscorer in his squad. The evidence supported Skiverton's view on Saturday as Bowditch nearly added a second goal just minutes after his first, being denied by former Town goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall.

After three months out of action, the Hertfordshire-born hit-man can surely only improve over the coming weeks. Bowditch waited for his chance from the bench on Saturday as Jon Obika was handed the lone striking role in the absence of the injured Sam Williams.

Skiverton was forced into a further re-shuffle as Nathan Jones, Shaun MacDonald and Terrell Forbes were also ruled out. Forbes was unable to play after feeling ill in the pre-match warm-up, with Stefan Stam drafted into defence. The late drama did not affect the Glovers, as they dominated the first half against a Southend side also hit by an injury crisis.

Yeovil captain Craig Alcock came close to an opening goal on 17 minutes when he met Scott Murray's corner with a thumping header which cannoned back off a post.

Ten minutes later the impressive Mildenhall rescued his side with a smart save, keeping out Murray's low shot with his feet. The goalkeeper also saved well from Obika, while Steven Caulker headed just over from another corner.

Southend were at full stretch, and on-loan Swindon Town defender Sean Morrison overstepped the mark on his debut on the half hour.

A sublime pass from Ryan Mason sent Obika racing clear and Morrison pulled him back just outside the penalty area. Referee David Phillips judged the offence a professional foul and showed the Plymouth-born player a red card to reduce the Shrimpers to ten men.

Mason curled the resulting free-kick just wide of the target, but Yeovil continued to create chances and Mildenhall again denied Murray before the break.

Town's best chance fell to Andy Welsh, after a dreadful error from Alan McCormack, but the winger lifted his shot over the crossbar from close range.

In the second half Murray was guilty of wasting a great chance when his control let him down at the crucial moment, but the Glovers kept pouring forward.

Mason drilled a shot narrowly wide after a neat turn on the edge of the area, while Welsh was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle from Anthony Grant. Mildenhall excelled himself again on 64 minutes when he smothered Mason's shot after the midfielder was sent up by Alcock's pinpoint pass.

With 20 minutes left, Skiverton decided to introduce the predatory Bowditch in the hope of finding the finishing touch his side had been missing. It took him less than seven minutes to make an impact, although he knew little about the goal. Obika smashed a volley at goal and the ball deflected off Bowditch's shoulder past a helpless Mildenhall.

"It really doesn't matter how he scored the goal – it just matters than he scored," Skiverton said. "He just has the knack of being in the right place at the right time."

SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson was left fuming at referee Dave Phillips following his side’s 1-0 defeat at Yeovil Town this afternoon.

The Blues boss was furious that Phillips opted to send off his new loan signing Sean Morrison during the first half.

And he also felt that the Glovers’ winning goal should not have been allowed.

“Again the officials have cost us the game,” said Tilson.

“I haven’t seen the incident again on the DVD yet but I thought Adam Barrett was covering Sean so it’s not a professional foul and should not have been a red card.

“Then I thought the free-kick which led to their goal shouldn’t have been given and, on top of that, their player has handled it into the net.

“That’s three dubious decisions and they’ve all gone against us.”

The first of verdicts saw Morrison being dismissed to make it a nightmare debut for the 18-year-old.

The centre-back only finalised his monthlong loan switch from Swindon Town on the morning of the match.

And he was as shocked as anyone when he saw the red card.

“The referee has told him four times that it was going to be a yellow card and has then showed him a red,” said Tilson, 43.

“There were some very strange decisions from the linesman too and it really has cost us.

“I thought Yeovil were running out of ideas during the second half and that we had done enough to get a point.”

The defeat meant the Shrimpers slipped to 13th in the League One standings and they have again been left with just two fit defenders unless Johnny Herd can quickly recover from his hamstring strain.

Tilson, along with skipper Adam Barrett and striker Dougie Freedman, protested to the match officials on the pitch for two minutes after the final whistle.

Paul Brush also expressed his views after the trio had departed but Blues will not be appealing against the decision to dismiss Morrison.

“Referee’s very rarely change their minds so there’s no point in doing that,” said Tilson.

“The lads dug in though and were great. I certainly can’t fault them for effort “Steve Mildenhall made some fantastic saves and I really can’t fault the lads because they gave me everything.

“It’s a real sickener to lose like we did but have to soldier on and be ready for the game against MK Dons on Friday, which will be another tough test.”

THINGS do not seem to be going Southend United’s way this season.

The Shrimpers’ problems off the pitch have been well documented but there have been problems on it too, including a real lack of luck.

Blues were finally able to bolster their defensive ranks before the game at Yeovil Town on Saturday but their new arrival — Sean Morrison — lasted just 31 minutes before being sent off.

It was a decision which could have gone either way but, with the season Southend have been having, it was not a surprise when the centre-back was dismissed for a professional foul, and he will now be suspended for Friday’s game with MK Dons.

Blues have not had the rub of the green with refereeing decisions this term and that is not sour grapes.

But one thing the Shrimpers are not lacking is effort and that was again shown at Yeovil.

For, despite having just 10 men for an hour and again being forced to play people out of position, Southend produced a spirited and committed performance.

They may not have managed a shot on target or even really looked like scoring but the manner of the match dictated a less cavalier approach.

Blues defended superbly and seemed set for a point before Dean Bowditch’s late winner which was harsh on the visitors, especially goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall.

He continued his fine run of form with a man of the match display against his former side and another unsung hero, Anthony Grant, also impressed.

Goalkeeper, left wing and up front are now the only positions he has not played in this season and he did an excellent job at left-back on Saturday.

Grant and the rest of the Shrimpers squad will now hope to be soon welcoming some much needed new team mates.

And, just as importantly, they will also be seeking a change of luck — particularly with the match officials.

SHRIMPERS skipper Adam Barrett was also disappointed by the displays of the match officials at Yeovil Town on Saturday.

The centre-back felt Sean Morrison’s red card changed the course of the game.

And, as the nearest player to the incident, he did not feel his latest defensive partner deserved to be dismissed.

“I was round there covering and I don’t think Sean was the last man to be honest,” said Barrett.

“That decision changed everything and it was just so frustrating because we just didn’t get anything from the officials all afternoon.

“We came here wanting to win but as soon as Sean got sent off it was all about hanging on and unfortunately we just couldn’t quite do that in the end.”

Dean Bowditch eventually converted in the 77th minute to secure a 1-0 victory for the home side.

And Barrett was infuriated that the referee had again contributed to his side losing.

“You have to be careful what you say these days but these strange decisions keep on going against us and I don’t know why,” fumed the defender.

“It’s been difficult enough for us this year and the decisions from referees have really cost us.”

The red card led to Blues again reshuffling their back four and will leave them with just two natural fit defenders as Morrison will now have to serve a one-match suspension.

But Barrett is looking forward to figuring alongside the youngster when he returns to action.

“Sean is obviously disappointed about what’s happened and the first thing we are going to have to do is pick his head up,” said Barrett.

“I’m looking forward to forging a good partnership with him and when he comes back in I’m sure he will do well for us.”

Sawyer, who had most recently been on loan with Southend United, has had his contract terminated.

Sawyer, 20, had featured as an unused substitute under Luiz Felipe Scolari, and has also played on loan with Wycombe and Coventry.