Steve Tilson admits that it has been his toughest period in charge of Southend United, but is looking forward to better times next season.

The Blues play host to Stockport County on Saturday and Tilson wants to get a win in front of the fans to close out their last game at Roots Hall this season.

"We'll be looking to put in a good performance and get a good result against Stockport," Steve told Blues Player.

"We've both been relegated, but you want to win every game.

"There is always something happening every season while I am in charge, but hopefully, next season things will be better and we can get promotion.

"It has been my toughest season so far and I don't think anyone would think any different.

"We have not been good enough to get where we want to, but we have to look forward now.

"This season has gone and we have to look to do better next year."

Looking ahead to next season, Tilson knows he will need to strengthen the side during the summer to bring in a host of new players.

And he will be depleted on numbers against Stockport, with Adam Barrett, Jean-Francois Christophe and Francis Laurent all ruled out with hamstring injuries suffered at Oldham Athletic last weekend.

He said: "There is no doubt that we need to bring players in.

"I've got a rough idea of the budget, but we will have to wait and see what the situation is with players and go from there.

"To lose three players to hamstring injuries against Oldham and have to play over 20 minutes with 10 men summed up our season.

"All three players will be out for the season, but unfortunately, that's life."