Black completes Southend move

[Olzy]

Southend United have completed the signing of former Crystal Palace midfielder Tommy Black.

The 27-year-old put pen-to-paper on a one-year-deal with the League One outfit, with an option of a further year at Steve Tilson's side.

Black had been training with the club at the back end of last season, but has now signed a permanent deal at Roots Hall.

Black had fallen out of favour with Palace manager Peter Taylor, making just one appearance last term.

He was then shipped out to Bradford City on loan but injury cut his stay short, and the former Arsenal man was forced to search for alternative employment.

Since making the switch, Black has moved quickly to state his ambitions with his new side, and is targeting a quick return to The Championship next season, whilst saying the decision to join Tilson's side was not a difficult one.

"It wasn't a hard decision for me to be honest," he told the club's official website.

"Southend is a club I have followed closely because it is sort of local to me. From there on, everything was pretty straight forward.

"Relegation was a sour note for Southend last season, but that's the way football is and it's important now that we bounce straight back and find ourselves at the right end of League One."

Black spent seven years with The Eagles since his switch from Arsenal, making 143 appearances for the Championship side.