JAMIE O’Hara has backed Kevin Bond to enjoy success as manager of Southend United.

O’Hara locked horns with Bond, who was on the coaching staff during his time at Tottenham Hotspur, as Billericay Town faced Southend United in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday.

And the Town player-assistant manager admits Bond is a coach he is looking emulate during his own career away from the pitch.

O’Hara said: “I think he will do a great job at Southend.

“I love Kev and he has got a wealth of experience.

“I picked his brains as soon as he walked through the door because he has been a manager and been around for a long time at the highest level.

“It’s important for me to talk to people with bags of experience in the game and try to learn from them.

“He is a top bloke and I think he will do a very good job for Southend.”

O’Hara was not able to get the bragging rights over Bond because the Shrimpers recorded a 3-2 win at the Steel Team Stadium as both sides continued their preparations for the upcoming campaign.

Callum Kennedy handed the hosts a seventh minute lead as his right-footed effort beat Southend goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

Shrimpers trialist Corey Jordan restored parity from a tight angle as the scores were level at the break.

Substitutes Rob Kiernan and Stephen Humphrys got their names on the scoresheet to put the League One side fully in control of the encounter.

Although Billericay trialist Samuel Egole pulled a goal back by meeting Alfie Potter’s cross, the hosts were unable to find a leveller.

However, O’Hara was overjoyed with Town’s performance.

“Southend are a League One team and a proper side,” added O’Hara.

“I know Kev and he is competitive and wanting to win the game even though it was a friendly.

“They came here and I think they realised in the opening 10 minutes that it would be a really good test for us.

“I think the boys were fantastic, particularly in the first 60 minutes.

“We made eight changes after 60 minutes and we were still really competitive, so I’m really proud of the boys.”