Southend United have delivered the most emphatic statement yet of their revival by scoring six goals in a single half for the first time in the club's 120-year history. The 6-1 demolition of Gateshead last weekend, which included a Sam Austin hat-trick, has the Shrimpers sitting second in the National League with 20 points from nine games.

Oliver Gage, the sporting director appointed in April, said the club's current position is a cause for optimism, not fear. "We are only two or three years removed from not having a club, so what are we afraid of?" Gage stated. "Any situation we’re in at the moment is a good situation to be in compared to that."

A club transformed

The transformation stems from the takeover by Justin Rees and his consortium two years ago, which rescued Southend from the brink of extinction. The club has since been systematically rebuilt, with Gage arriving on a three-year deal and Kieron Dyer, 47, appointed manager on a two-year contract with an optional third. They replaced club legend Kevin Maher, who was dismissed after five years in charge.

A sweeping overhaul of the playing squad has seen 16 new arrivals, including signings from clubs like Nottingham Forest, West Ham, and Derby County. This influx has lowered the squad's average age by 1.7 years, injecting fresh energy into a side that now has a top-five budget in the division. The ambition is clear. Gage's mandate is to improve the team each year, and he has expressed frustration that a club of Southend's size, with over 8,000 passionate fans, is not competing in League Two or League One.

Momentum on the pitch

The results are now following the plan. Southend's form reads three wins and two draws from their last five matches, a sequence that includes a 3-1 victory over Tamworth. The Gateshead rout was the pinnacle so far. Harry Cardwell opened the scoring after six minutes, with Kieran McAdam, Sam Austin, and Cardwell again adding to the tally before the break. Austin completed his treble in first-half stoppage time, a burst of goals that rewrote the club's record books.

That victory leaves Southend just three points behind leaders Boreham Wood with a healthy goal difference of plus 11, having scored 23 times this season. The atmosphere at the ageing but beloved Roots Hall, a ground that hosted 9,155 fans for a recent game against Kidderminster Harriers, is transformed. Supporters are daring to dream of a return to the Football League.

Liam Ager, a key figure in the club's restructuring, likened the initial challenge to untangling a monumental knot. "Trying to untangle all the mess felt like when you pull some headphones out of your pocket, only the cable was 100m long," he said.

The work is far from over, but the direction is unmistakable. The immediate focus is on maintaining this momentum, with the next test a home fixture against 17th-placed Barrow on 26 September. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full fixtures list as the promotion push continues. With a renewed squad and clear leadership, Southend United are finally looking up the table instead of over their shoulder.

The original report is at The i Paper

Assistant head coach Adem Atay has praised the impact of winger Zavier Massiah-Edwards. Atay said the player, who came in on non-contract terms, is "a bag of energy with a lot of potential." Massiah-Edwards provided assists for the first two goals in the 6-1 win over Gateshead, a result that keeps Southend second in the National League, three points behind leaders Boreham Wood. Atay added that his off-the-ball runs and final pass were key, and boss Kieron Dyer confirmed he will stay at the club despite Sahid Kamara's return from injury.

Gateshead boss Lee Cattermole said Southend were "unbelievably clinical" in their 6-1 defeat of his side. He told his club's website that Southend had seven shots in the first half and scored six goals. The result keeps Southend second in the National League, three points behind leaders Boreham Wood.