Lincoln boss Tilson to avoid Southend chairman Martin

Tilson led Southend from League Two to the Championship

Lincoln City boss Steve Tilson insists he will avoid meeting Southend chairman Ron Martin when the Imps play his former club at Sincil Bank on Saturday.

It is Tilson's first match against the Shrimpers since he left the club in acrimonious circumstances after six seasons in charge.

They are involved in a legal row over the alleged non-payment of wages after Tilson was placed on gardening leave.

Tilson said: "I don't feel I want to see the chairman at the moment."

Tilson led Southend from League Two to the Championship but he was relieved of his duties in July 2010 by the financially-stricken Essex club.

Tilson added: "I'll always be grateful to Ron for giving me the opportunity to manage the club but I'm disappointed at what's gone on."

Tilson's assistant Paul Brush, who worked alongside him at Roots Hall until he was dismissed in March 2010, said: "We won't go looking for people on Saturday but I won't ignore anybody because both of us know we have nothing to regret while we were there."

In a statement Southend refuted Tilson's allegations of non-payment, and claimed Tilson had been paid "up until the point he chose to become manager of Lincoln City".