Southend United Football Club is pleased to announce that Gary Lockett has formally been voted onto the Board of Directors.

Mr Lockett will join the board with immediate effect bringing a wealth of business experience with him.

Having been a supporter of the Football Club for over 40-years, Gary is also a director of independent financial advisors SP Financial Management and Managing Director of current main club sponsors, InsureandGo.

Blues Chairman Ron Martin and Chief Executive Geoffrey King were pleased to have secured Gary's services with the Football Club.

"Gary has had a very long association with the Football Club through his numerous sponsorships and partnerships," Mr King told southendunited.co.uk this evening.

"In his own right he is a very successful businessman and comes with a wealth of experience that will be of a great benefit to the Club.

"With the New Stadium on the horizon Gary's input along with the rest of the board in shaping our future direction will prove invaluable."

Mr Lockett, 45 from Daws Heath, becomes the eighth current director of Southend United.

He joins fellow non-executive directors Michael Markscheffel, Raymond Osborne, Paul Robinson, Frank Van Wezel and Derek Wilshire on the board, along with Chairman Ronald Martin and Chief Executive Geoffrey King.

And the new appointee is looking forward to working with the current board and management team to bring success to the Football Club.

Gary admitted: "It is a huge honour to be asked to represent the Football Club I have supported since I was a boy.

"We are on the cusp of probably the most exciting period in the Club's history and to be a part of that is exciting.

"Chairman Ron Martin has done an excellent job in steering the Southend United ship so far and I look forward to working with him, the other directors and the management team to bring further success to Roots Hall and into the New Stadium."