CONTINUITY has been the secret to Southend United’s success during the past few seasons.

The Shrimpers have regularly fielded a settled side and that has enabled a real understanding to develop between team-mates.

When winning League One back in 2006, manager Steve Tilson used only 24 players throughout the whole campaign.

The year before he used 26 and the season after 28 but already during the current campaign, which still has more than five months to go, he has fielded 31 players.

Such a statistic highlights the main problem with the current Southend side as they have regularly been forced to chop and change the team.

The longest spell without altering the starting line-up stands at two matches so far this season and that is the main reason why the Shrimpers currently find themselves in mid-table instead of pushing for promotion.

Injuries to key personnel including the likes of Alan McCormack, Lee Barnard and Dougie Freedman have certainly not helped but it is the constant disruption which has hit Southend the hardest.

They have selected eight on loan players but, although the majority of them have impressed during their stays, they remain short-term solutions to long-term problems.

With players departing and other arriving confusion is guaranteed and it is why the next two months are of massive significance for Southend’s season.

First comes the Christmas period when ground can quickly be made up and then maybe even more importantly the transfer window re-opens.

The impending addition of Jean-Francois Christophe is a step in the right direction but more permanent signings must follow in his foot-steps.

Further arrivals on loan may offer a quick fix but Tilson needs to be able to bring in players for longer than three months.

That would bring continuity back to the club and would greatly increase the chances of further success and a return to the Championship.