Southend United has appointed Catherine Honey as its new general manager, marking a significant change in leadership for the club based at Roots Hall Stadium in Southend-on-Sea. Announced on 21 May 2026, the appointment is part of a broader management restructuring following the takeover of the club by the Custodians of Southend United consortium led by Justin Rees in July 2024.
In her new role, Honey will manage the day-to-day business operations of the club, including commercial and media activities. This appointment follows the departure of Chief Executive Tom Lawrence and Head of Football John Still, who left their positions in April 2026 as part of the same organisational shift. The board is working to separate commercial and business functions from football operations to provide more focused management.
The leadership changes at the National League club occur during a period of transition. Jonathan Duckett was also appointed as the new head of recruitment on 20 May 2026. These administrative updates follow the departure of head coach Kevin Maher, who was sacked on 19 May 2026, just two days after he led the team to a victory in the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium.
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