THE season may not have been completed in full but Southend United can have no complaints about being back in League Two next term.

In fact, from October onwards relegation seemed a foregone conclusion.

And only an undeserved null and voiding of the season would have saved the Shrimpers.

But, after collecting just 19 points in 35 outings, Blues fully deserve to go down.

Twelve months previously, Southend survived by the skin of their teeth when a last gasp winner from Stephen Humphrys against Sunderland on the final day of the season saw the club stay in League One on goal difference.

However, what should have been the biggest wake up call in recent times at Roots Hall, was not acted upon and just when it seemed things could not get any worse, they did.

By now, the damning statistics are well known but poring over them once more is pointless at this stage and what matters most is how Blues can bounce back from such a low base.

These are not normal times and, following the coronavirus pandemic, nobody knows when and how football will be able to return.

But once the Shrimpers do get the green light to come back two of the main things which must be sorted are structure and mentality.

Blues are simply crying out for a chief executive to be put in place while somehow or other the doom and gloom must also be lifted.

Put simply, the club is no longer a fun place to be and such a negative environment is no good for anyone.

The players deserve the constructive criticism coming their way but many are not as bad as their performances have suggested in recent times.

However, they too have been dragged down mentally and, with the constant negativity, it became close to impossible to be at their best.

That does not excuse the performances they produced but lessons have to be learnt if the Shrimpers are not to struggle again next season.

And it is also time for Sol Campbell to step forward.

Nobody can deny the former England international had it tough with Blues last term and in many ways he inherited an almost impossible job.

A transfer embargo, the departure of players and the late payment of wages added to his difficulties.

But Campbell must now decide what he does next.

The 45-year-old has had very limited contact with anyone at the club since the season was suspended in March.

And he must now decide if he is ready for the huge fight ahead.

If he is then Campbell has to roll up his sleeves, dig deep and embrace the challenges coming his way to create the unity and atmosphere needed to push forward.

But bemoaning the issues is no good for anyone anymore and if Campbell feels he is unable to ignore the immense difficulties then it would be better for all concerned if he walked away.

Such a decision would be completely understandable but things simply have to change as the last two seasons have been nowhere near acceptable.

Blues have become a soft touch and their superb supporters deserve so much more.

But this enforced break needs to almost be a reset button for the Shrimpers, and it is time to get recruitment right and form a committed, hungry, energetic team capable of getting the club back on track.

Nobody is expecting perfect football or perfect results and that is not what life is like following the fortunes of a lower League team.

But the youngsters who impressed towards the end of last season, should now be given more chances to progress and improve.

And, above all else, it is time to look forward not back and make being at Southend United fun once more.