Southend United Sack Kevin Maher Two Days After FA Trophy Win

Overview

• Southend said Tuesday a season review led to Maher’s exit along with assistants Darren Currie and Mark Bentley, and the club has started recruiting a new head coach.
• Maher’s final match brought Southend their first-ever domestic trophy as they beat Wealdstone on penalties at Wembley in the FA Trophy.
• The league campaign fell short of promotion as Southend finished sixth with 81 points and lost 1-0 to Scunthorpe United in the National League play-off eliminator.
• The club statement praised Maher’s stabilizing role under the 2024 COSU ownership, noting back-to-back top-seven finishes and two Wembley trips, and called him a club legend.
• Reactions described shock in the squad and at a club awards event, and the BBC reported tension after April’s hire of director of football Oliver Gage, suggesting a power shift that could shape summer recruitment.