Southend United has appointed Adem Atay as assistant head coach to Kieron Dyer. Atay joins from Norwich City, where he was an academy coach.

What happened?

Atay will reunite with Dyer, having worked together at Ipswich Town's youth set-up. He turned down opportunities at higher-level clubs to join Southend.

Why it matters for Southend

Atay's appointment is a major coup for the club, which is currently 6th in the England National League with 81 points from 46 games. The team's recent form has been WLWWD, with their last result being a 0-0 draw against Wealdstone on 2026-05-17.

What comes next?

Dyer believes Atay will be a big asset for the club, having worked closely with him in the past. Atay has stated that he is excited to join the project at Southend, having personal ties to the area. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | League standing | 6th in England National League | | Points | 81 | | Recent form | WLWWD | | Last result | Southend 0-0 Wealdstone (2026-05-17) | Atay's experience and knowledge will be invaluable as Southend aims to return to the EFL.