Southend United manager Steve Tilson has confirmed that the Blues have activated an option in defender Johnny Herd's contract to extend it for a year.

Herd, 20, was out of contract at the end of this season but United have taken up a clause in his contract to keep him at Roots Hall for a further year.

That means that the product of United's youth system becomes the first out of contract player to be signed up for next season.

"There is a clause in Johnny's contract when he signed that had an option of another year in the Club's favour," boss Tilson told southendunited.co.uk this morning.

"He's progressed since coming back into the side in the second half of the season and I want to keep him on for next year.

"It is good to get that one sorted nice and early and we can now concentrate on renewing the other players we want to keep hold of."

Herd made 22 appearances for Blues this season after forcing his way past Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Scott Malone.