Southend boss Steve Tilson stressed that he still sees striker Freddy Eastwood as a big part of United's plans next season.

That's despite the Blues relegation into League One this season following a disappointing season in the Championship last term.

Eastwood, a former West Ham trainee, has constantly been linked with moves away from Roots Hall since he burst onto the scene almost three-years ago.

However, after United activated a clause in his contract to keep him at the Blues for a further year, Tilson believes only a top flight move would be beneficial to the 23-year-old.

Steve told Blues World: "If the Chairman doesn't want to sell him then he will certainly be a Southend player next year.

"Obviously we want him to be a part of things here because he scores goals and he has done at all levels.

"I would love him to stay but he only has a year left on his contract and we will have to weigh everything up.

"If a Premiership club comes in or a top Championship club then you would have to ask him if he still wanted to be here.

"But there is no point in Freddy moving just for the sake of it; it needs to be a big club offering him a lot of money to make it worth him going in my opinion otherwise he's better off staying where he is.

"At the end of the day though it won't be his decision it will be the Football Club's."