Kev is named Manager of the Season by NL sponsors Vanarama.

[Cricko]

Maher Is Vanarama Manager of the Season!

The official website of Southend United FC

www.southendunited.co.uk

Kevin Maher has been named Vanarama’s Manager of the Season for 2023/24!

Awarded by the National League’s title sponsors, Blues Head Coach Maher has been selected as their standout boss as we defied the odds to finish ninth.

The gaffer had to work with his hands tied behind his back for much of the season, with the Shrimpers only able to name a couple of substitutes for much of the autumn and winter.

Maher also worked against the 10-point deduction we were given, but helped ensure a quick escape from the relegation zone.

When the transfer embargo was finally lifted and Maher was able to reinforce his squad in late December and January, Blues reached another gear and went on the longest unbeaten run of any National League team in 2023/24.

The 15-game sequence ended on the final day, but the way the Head Coach and his staff achieved such an impressive final position shows why Maher has received this award.

 

[SeldomSeenShrimper]

So deserved!

It was gonna be him or Cook

 

[Big_Nath]

Well deserved but definitely the management TEAM

 

[Tampa Blue]

So well deserved and makes a change for the decision to not be made purely on the League position - PL take note please!!

 

[shrimpled]

I know on the whole we are a bit biased, but this absolutely the right call. There were some fantastic managerial achievements throughout our division last year - most notably Cook and Woodman - but what Kevin and the managerial team were able to do against everything that was against them (barely half of it even reported) was phenomenal. Congratulations guys.

 

[Cricko]

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United manager Kevin Maher has been named National League manager of the season.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[overseas shrimper]

Rightly so. Maher, the coaching staff, players and everyone else have been amazing.

 

[Streaky]

I have said this before but without Kev and the 3 amigos we would have been relegated.

Not many teams would have played so well for so long with so little.

#LongLiveKingKev

 

[Cricko]

 

[CanveyCastle]

I love this man. So well deserved..

 

[ChalkwellShrimper]

Without Rat Martin we'd have been 10 points better off. If, for whatever reason, we'd have been without Kev (Darren and Mark) we'd have been 30 points worse off.

Congratulations Kev and team, richly deserved.

 

[Snowy]

View attachment 32054

This just sums Kev up completely.
He knows how hard the last year has been but still takes the time to make sure everyone knows this was a huge Team effort.
Sign of a True Leader.

 

[NZamba Legend]

Crab football

 

[Strykr]

Well deserved but definitely the management TEAM

This

 

[Colchester and proud!]

Very well deserved, a lesser man would have left long ago, hopefully better times lay ahead for everyone at the club and of course you long suffering fans.

 

[Worcester Shrimper64]

Congrats to Kev. Now the hard work starts though. We need to get out of this awful league next season and get back where we belong in the Football League.

 

[gatecrasher]

Richly deserved. Going into the last game with a shout of the playoffs after 10 point deduction and a squad of 12 at times last year because of the 8 millennium embargo....Great work.

 

[Tinks]

So well deserved and reflects the character of the man and well deserved to all the team and all the back room staff too

Now young Kev, get us out of this league will you

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

Absolutely. What Maher achieved last year is outstanding. No one would have blamed him if he'd have walked.

he quite rightly says individual prizes "....are nice....", but to do what he did needed the buy in of the whole footballing side of the club. But it still needs someone to inject the belief and instil the loyalty to go out and get the results we did, under those circumstances.

You only have to look at the league predictions across the football world as an example of the feeling of where we would finish. the vast majority having us bottom or second bottom and relegated as a prediction, to see how he overachieved in many people's views, with how the embargo and points deduction would affect us is outstanding, nothing more nothing less.