REECE Ottley has been named as Southend United’s new first team goalkeeper coach.

Ottley has helped bring a number of promising shot-stoppers through the ranks at Roots Hall.

And Blues boss Phil Brown has now handed him an opportunity within the senior set up.

“Reece has done well in the academy and I think he deserves this chance now,” said Brown.

“He actually impressed me so much during the interview that I offered him the job there on the spot. He interviewed like somebody with a great deal of experience would have done and came along with about five or six possible goalkeeping targets for us.”

Ottley has been Blues’ academy goalkeeping coach for the past eight years and was previously first team goalkeeping coach at Leyton Orient where he helped the O’s the win the National League.