SOUTHEND United's new boss Stewart Robson has moved quickly to bolster his squad just days after taking control of the Shrimpers on a temporary basis.

Robson, who only took over on Monday, beat the deadline sales rush to snap up 24-year-old midfielder Gavin Strachan and 18-year-old defender Ronnie Henry, with both added to the squad to face City

Strachan, the son of Southampton chief Gordon, had been released by Coventry and moved to Peterborough on a non-contract basis.

However, despite featuring for Posh over the past three weeks, the offer of a deal until the end of the season at Roots Hall was too good to turn down.

Meanwhile, Henry has joined on a month's loan from Tottenham Hotspur and replaces fellow White Hart Lane centre-half Stephen Kelly, after the Irish Under-20s international turned down an extension to his loan deal, opting to spend a month at QPR.

Updated: 11:37 Friday, March 28, 2003