A trio of Southend United midfielders have been transfer-listed by the Third Division club as Blues boss Alan Little continues to rebuild his squad.

The Shrimpers chief today revealed that he has told Adrian Clarke, Simon Livett and Kevin Maher that their futures lie elsewhere and they are free to leave the Roots Hall outfit.

"I honestly feel that the squad I have at Southend is strong enough to allow these three lads to leave and I have circulated their names to alert other clubs to their availability for transfer," Little confirmed.

The writing was on the wall for Livett, 30, and Maher, 22, at Hartlepool United on Saturday, with Little preferring untried 17-year-old YTS midfielder Danny Kerrigan for his substitutes bench, ahead of his two more senior men.

However, 24-year-old Clarke was one of Blues' substitutes for the 2-1 victory at Victoria Park, but would seem to be as out of favour as his two colleagues.

"These three players are on the fringe of the first team at Roots Hall, but aren't getting any games here, so it would be better for them to move on," added Little.

"I honestly believe they are all capable of continuing their careers at Third Division level and I don't want to stand in the way of them joining another club and progressing with their careers.

"Ideally I want to move these lads on permanently, with or without a fee, but I would also let them leave Roots Hall on loan if it helped them get fixed up with another club, who wanted to look at them closer."

Little, who only awarded Clarke and Maher new contracts at the end of last season, said he felt his first-team squad was good enough to off-load all three players at once.

"We're six games into the new season and Clarke, Maher and Livett aren't getting into my team," he said.

"I've brought in players like Gordon Connelly and Mark Tinkler, who have made us stronger in midfield, so I can afford to let these players go as I begin to trim down what is a very large squad at Roots Hall."

Little, who failed in a bid for Manchester City's £1 million striker Craig Russell - now at Blues' Third Division rivals Darlington - last week, said he would be again looking at new frontmen over the next couple of days.

"I've got one or two forwards to check out and I'll be watching a few games this week," Little reported.

"I'm desperate to get a new front-runner here because I'm growing concerned about the amount of chances we are creating, which aren't being converted.

"I'll be pulling out all the stops to get someone in before our next match at Macclesfield Town on Saturday, either on loan or permanently," the manager added.

Kevin Maher - Blues boss Alan Little thinks the midfielder's future lies elsewhere

(Right) Disappointment - Adrian Clarke played on Saturday but both he and Simon Livett (left) have been transfer-listed

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