Southend United dismissed head coach Kevin Maher and coaching staff Darren Currie and Mark Bentley following a review of the 2025-26 campaign. Maher had been appointed in 2021 and previously played for the club for a decade. He led Southend to a historic FA Trophy win at Wembley, defeating Wealdstone on penalties and securing the club’s first domestic trophy. The team finished sixth in the National League and lost in the play-offs to Scunthorpe United. The club stated the board decided to begin a new chapter and launched a search for a new head coach. Maher expressed pride in the players and fans and said winning trophies was a career highlight.
"Southend finished sixth in the National League this season - losing in the play-offs to Scunthorpe United - and on Tuesday the club announced Maher, along with coaching staff Darren Currie and Mark Bentley, would depart following a review of the 2025-26 campaign."
""The board has decided this is the right moment to start the next chapter in Southend United's journey and a comprehensive search to find a new head coach is underway," said Southend., external "Kevin and his staff have played a hugely important role during a significant period in the club's history. Since the COSU [Custodians of Southend United] takeover, they have helped stabilise the football club, delivered back-to-back top-seven finishes, taken us to Wembley on two occasions, and on Sunday, delivered our first domestic cup triumph.""
""Kevin was involved in more games as both a player and head coach than anyone in our 120-year history and departs with his status as a club legend firmly cemented. "Everyone at Southend United thanks Kevin, Darren and Mark for their commitment to the club and the wider community and wishes them every success in the future.""
"Maher, who made 454 appearances for Southend between 1998 and 2008, told BBC Radio Essex after Sunday's Wembley success: "I'm so proud of the players and the fans who turned out in their numbers. "It's the first domestic cup the club has ever won - this is up there in my career highlights for sure. "There's been some tough times this year and a lot of talk about me but I love winning trophies for this football team.""
Read at www.bbc.com
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