McCormack joins Southend after training with Cobblers

Former Cobblers midfielder Alan McCormack has joined Southend United on a short-term deal.

The 36-year-old was released after one season at Northampton and had been training at the PTS Academy Stadium in the past few weeks.

But McCormack made no secret of his desire to keep playing after leaving the Cobblers in July and he has now signed for the League Two outfit until January.

He returns to Roots Hall 10 years after leaving the club when he made over 150 appearances across four years.

"It doesn’t feel like I’ve been away,” said McCormack. "When I had a phone call with the manager I was getting more and more excited to come back and I’m delighted it’s done.

"I loved my time at this club beforehand. I moved away to try and do something different and new in my life but I’m just thankful that I’m able to come back and, hopefully, make a difference here.

"I spoke to the manager on Tuesday evening and instantly the way he described things I got a really good feeling. It’s a project he’s embarking on and he wanted me to be part of it. At my age and the youthfulness of the squad I felt like I could be a real asset.

"I’m a winner by nature, I hate losing even if it’s against my six-year-old boy in the back garden playing two touch. Pool, table-tennis, darts, you name it I hate losing, and that’s the nature I’ve always had about me.

"Come Saturday at 3 o’clock I’ll tend to raise up an extra 10-20 per cent and that will be the same this year."

Southend boss Mark Molesley added: "I remember playing against Alan and he’s a really tough competitor. I think that’s what we need.

"He’s got that steel, that grit but he’s got that experience and is a very good football player. You don’t have the career he’s had without being a very good footballer and a fierce competitor.

"It’s clear that last Saturday we had a very youthful squad out there and with some of the experienced players out injured at the moment, I think when they come back and we add Alan to that we’ve got a better balance.

"He’s won this league numerous times and that experience is unrivalled. He was playing in a successful play-off final a few months ago and you can’t buy that."