Sol Campbell is bringing former Arsenal fitness coach, Tony Colbert, into his backroom staff at Southend after the former Arsenal defender was appointed manager of the League One club.

Sol Campbell was named as the new manager of Southend United on Tuesday night just before they lost 7-1 to Doncaster in their heaviest ever home defeat after having two men sent off.

Speaking at length following his appointment, Campbell also dropped a bit of info about Colbert when asked about his backroom staff that will include Andy Cole and Hermann Hreidarsson.

“You always need a team,” Campbell said. “Last time I came in by myself which was difficult and it’s good to have a supporting team around you.

“They all bring their elements in and we have Tony Colbert on the fitness side too.

“He’s going to be instrumental going forward and that’s what it’s all about.

“This team will have your back and one man can’t do this job. There’s no question about that.”

Colbert ‘stepped aside’ at Arsenal in 2017 as fitness coach when Darren Burgess came in as Director of High Performance. He was to take on a technical role but left the club last summer after 20 years and 1140 games under Arsene Wenger in the Great Cull.

Campbell has signed a two-and-a-half year deal that ties him to the club until the end of the 2021-2022 season.

The BBC’s Essex sports editor, Glenn Speller, said of the announcement, “This news makes more sense than what we were expecting last week, with the untried and unproven Larsson on the verge of joining.

“When that move broke down, Ron Martin moved quickly to resurrect talks with Campbell.

“He comes with saving Macclesfield on his CV, which will give many Blues fans hope he can repeat that feat.

“Campbell is joining a club where morale is fragile and supporter expectations are on the floor. If he can turn this one around, Southend might find themselves fighting off more suitors.”