WHEN YOU'RE trying to rebuild a squad from scratch, in the middle of a financial crisis, you need an experienced manager with a book-full of contacts.

The club is Southend United, and the man is Paul Sturrock.

There was some surprise when Southend turned to Sturrock to try and rescue them in pretty difficult circumstances.

They had just been relegated to League Two, after a punch-above-their-weight run under Steve Tilson.

And creditors were pressing on all sides.

Sturrock had enjoyed a fine managerial career, from St. Johnstone to Dundee United in Scotland to Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton and Swindon Town in England.

But at the age of 53 and suffering a form of Parkinson's Disease, his second spell at Home Park had not ended well.

But the former Scottish international forward has thrown himself into his new job, signing more than 15 players in the biggest squad overhaul in the division this summer.

Those signings include two goalkeepers — Glenn Morris from Leyton Orient and the experienced Rhys Evans from Bristol Rovers, after spells with Chelsea, Swindon, Blackpool, Millwall and Bradford City.

Sturrock's old clubs feature strongly in the CVs of several of his recruits this year.

For instance, full-backs Peter Gilbert and Chris Barker both played under him at Plymouth.

There's an interesting character at centre-half in Tunisian-born Bilel Mohsni, a 6ft 3in tall defender plucked out of the French Second Division.

Sean Clohessy, who started his career at Gillingham, was also picked up cheaply after two good years with Salisbury City.

Midfield is anchored by another 'Sturrock man' — 31-year-old Craig Easton (Dundee Utd, Livingston, Orient, Swindon).

Other men in the engine room include ex-Cambridge and Peterborough starlet Josh Simpson, former Chelsea trainee Anthony Grant and Ryan Hall, an ex-Crystal Palace trainee snapped up from Bromley this summer.

Up front Sturrock has paired his son Blair with Barry Corr (see Player To Watch).

Sturrock Jr has played under his dad at Dundee Utd, Plymouth and Swindon, as well as playing for Kidderminster, Rochdale, Torquay on loan and Mansfield in the Conference last season.

Sturrock Sr also has previous experience with forward Matt Paterson (Southampton), midfielder Sofiane Zaaboub (Swindon) and player-coach and centre-half Graham Coughlan, 35, who enjoyed his best years under his boss at Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday.

Sturrock signed Coughlan from Shrewsbury.

Other summer signings have included defender Luke Prosser from Port Vale and full-back or winger Louie Soares from Aldershot.

Striker Scott Spencer, who signed from Rochdale last January, is one of the few men whom Sturrock inherited, along with ex-trainees Johnny Herd and Adam Bouzid.