Southend have helped defender Osei Sankofa overcome his disappointment at being released from Charlton by handing him a two-year deal.Sankofa has since been given a chance to resurrect his career with League One Southend, where he will ply his trade until summer 2010.
He told the Shrimpers website: "I can play at right-back, centre-back and even was thrown in at left-back once which I didn't really enjoy. Being versatile will hopefully help though and that will mean playing as many games as possible here with a bit of luck.
"The break has been really long this summer so I have been having a kick around with my mates to keep fit. You miss football when you aren't playing, it is nice to have a break but I just want to get going now."
He added: "Having been released by Charlton was really disappointing; but if I was to go to any club that is going forward then this would be the one I would choose.
"Charlton are a reasonably big club and it was difficult to make the breakthrough. They were in the Premier League for a number of years and it was disappointing not to play more. I still believe I can get back to that level one day and it would be nice if that was with Southend."
