Tilson calls on Monopoly Commission to investigate Wolves

Southend manager Steve "Tilly" Tilson has called on the Competition Commission (formerly the Monopoly and Mergers Commission) to investigate Wolverhampton Wanderers, after news emerged that Southend have tried to sign Wolves left-back Scott Malone, 18, on loan.

Malone will become the THIRD Wolves left-back to join Southend on loan in the past 18 months, following Charlie Mulgrew and George Friend. It is believed that another left-back, Daniel Jones, who is now on loan at Notts County was Tilson's original target. Tilson was unable to renew Friend's loan when the Football League blocked the move, allowing Scunthorpe to move in and take the talented, if not pacey, 21 year old on loan to Glanford Park

With Richard Stearman, George Elokobi and Stephen Ward all competing for the left-back spot at Molyneux, it means that Wolves have over twice as many left-backs as Southend have defenders. It was this stunning stat that persuaded Tilson, who earlier this week celebrated his sixth anniversary at the club, to complain to the Competition Commission about Wolves' left-back monopoly.

It is understood that, in line with recent transfer policy, the team coach will pick him up on the way to Tranmere tonight.

Southend in drive-by signing

Southend signed the first of what manager Steve "Tilly" Tilson hopes will be three loan signings when Essex's premier (and with all respect to Dagenham, only) team managed to pick up Swindon defender Sean Morrison on the way to Yeovil.

However with kick-off just three hours away Tilson's gamble that he'd manage to find en route three players who had brought their boots and were up for a game appears to have misfired.

The Wickford born Blues boss' last hope of filling the bench would appear to rest with persuading the coach driver to carry along the M4 to Bristol and hoping that Bristol City or Rovers have a spare player or two, but heavy traffic could scupper that plan.

Tilson revealed he was also in negotiation with the coach driver to go back a different route to the way they came to see if he could pick up anyone on the way back from Bournemouth, Southampton, Portsmouth or Brighton.

Southend in big name signing?

Sources close to the club were last night refusing to be drawn on speculation linking the Essex Riviera club to a big name striker.

It is known that with only five defenders on the club's books, manager Steve "Tilly" Tilson is desperate to sign another striker to fire the League One club to promotion.

With Southend struggling for points, Dutch striker of Indian descent, Prince Linval Reuben Mathilda Rajcomar, is the latest to be linked. He could be worth an extra whopping 60 points in scrabble (excluding triple or double letter/word bonuses), which when combined with Alan McCormack's disciplinary points would make the Blues firm favourites to run away with the title this season.

It is expected that he'll play for the reserves this afternoon before we are told that he is no better than we already have.