Centre-midfielder James Morton joined the club on a two-and-a-half year deal on December 29, 2023.

He had played most of his football in the Bristol area but made the move to Essex to become Kevin Maher’s first signing since the lifting of the transfer embargo. 

He spent 10 years with Bristol City, from 2013 to 2023. Morton had three separate loan spells with Bath City in that time, playing 84 league games for the Romans.

Morton has also played for three different clubs in the EFL, Forest Green Rovers, Grimsby Town and Gillingham, making 19 appearances in League Two and one in League One.

Morton has made more than 90 appearances for the Shrimpers, scoring his one and only goal to date in a 4-2 win over Boreham Wood in April 2024.

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