STEPHEN McLaughlin will be back at Southend United this weekend still feeling disappointed by how his own spell with the Shrimpers came to an end.

The 30-year-old winger will be lining up for Mansfield Town in another crunch League Two clash at Roots Hall on Saturday.

But McLaughlin, who made 185 appearances in a five year spell with Blues, teamed up with the Stags in the summer after never being offered another contract by Southend.

“I wasn’t happy the way it ended if I’m honest,” said McLaughlin.

“I got a phone call from the chairman to tell me I was going to be offered a contract.

“I said great, send it over and we could take it from there.

“I then got an email to say I would get a phone call on the Monday to discuss it further but I never received that phone call.

“I text the chairman and I said I was disappointed never to receive an offer and he said he heard I agreed terms with Mansfield.

“At the time that wasn’t true, I still have a house in Southend, my missus loves it here and I did want to stay but that’s football.

“He still owes me money too but that’s neither here nor there.

“I’m at Mansfield now and I’m happy again.”

McLaughlin initially joined Blues on loan from Nottingham Forest towards the end of the 2014/15 season and lined up in the memorable play-off final victory against Wycombe Wanderers.

The winger was also voted into the Echo’s team of the decade by the club’s fans and, despite some difficult times, McLaughlin relished the majority of his time at Roots Hall.

“On the whole I loved my time at Southend,” said McLaughlin.

“I met some friends for life there and I loved it.

“The club looked after me when I was going through tough times and I won’t forget that.

“It’s a special place for me and the fans were great to me as well.

“We had promotion and some good times.”

But Blues started to struggle on and off the pitch in McLaughlin’s last two seasons at the club.

And the Irishman found that tough to take.

“The last couple of years at Southend I fell out of love with football really because it was very, very difficult,” said McLaughlin.

“I’m starting to get the love back for the game now though.

“I was very close to staying home in Ireland in the summer but I’m glad I made the decision to come back over to Mansfield.

“It’s been great lately and I was always looking forward to being at a stable club.”

The Stags are currently 14th in the standings but have recovered well from their own shaky start to the season which saw ex Southend coach Graham Coughlan dismissed as their manager.

Under new boss Nigel Clough, Mansfield have won their last four games. But, as they bid to extend their unbeaten run, McLaughlin is bracing himself for an unusual afternoon.

“I spent a good number of years at Southend and coming back with another team will be weird,” said McLaughlin.

“Playing against the likes of JD (Jason Demetriou) and Ox (Mark Oxley) will be weird because I’m still good mates with them and Brandon Goodship as well.

“It’s going be to weird but I’m looking forward to it.”

The Shrimpers will be desperate for the points as they attempt to work their way off the foot of the table.

And McLaughlin is bracing himself for a tough game.

“On the pitch they’re going to be dogged and right at it,” said the Irishman.

“That’s how they were when we played them at home.

“They’ve got an identity now, a way to win games and get points.

“They’re not the nicest to play against but we’re more than capable of matching them.”