Manager Steve Tilson has confirmed that he is pulling Southend United out of the Totesport.com Combination League next season.

The Blues boss has decided not to enter a team in the reserve league following a season of naming under strength sides.

And Tilson believes that he will gain more from second string fixtures by arranging them as and when they are required.

"The main reason for pulling out next season is that you have to fulfil fixtures just for the sake of it," Tilson told southendunited.co.uk today.

"There were occasions when we weren't fielding a reserve side but basically putting a youth team out for the sake of it.

"The youngsters don't get anything out of that as they then end up playing two games a week sometimes.

"By not being part of a structured league with fixtures that must be fulfilled we can then arrange matches as and when we need them to look at trialists or to aid the recovery of our injured players.

"More and more teams are pulling out this season for the same reason because in the end it just becomes a chore to take part."

Southend's reserve side finished bottom of the Eastern Division last season after losing 11 of their 18 matches, only winning on two occasions.