Kevin Harman can expect a bit more media attention at Wasps

Southend director of rugby Kevin Harman has left the club to become first team manager at Premiership side Wasps.

Harman joins the European champions having guided Southend from London Three North-East to National League Two in just seven years.

Harman said: "I've run the Southend team reasonably successfully over the last few years and I think I've shown I've got good management skills.

"I'm very happy to go there. I'm pretty sure I'll do a good job," he added.

"And I'll need to because they won't settle for anything but the best at Wasps."

Harman's successor as Southend Director of Rugby will be former captain Ben Green.

There's only two of us that are full-time at Southend and I think there's about 150 full-time employees at Wasps, so it's a bit of a step-up Kevin Harman

Harman admitted life at the West London club will be a little different from what he has been used to in south Essex.

He told BBC Essex: "There's only two of us that are full-time at Southend and I think there's about 150 full-time employees at Wasps, so it's a bit of a step-up."

Harman will remain involved with Southend as his two sons play for the mini-side and is also currently in negotiations to do some consultancy work at Warner's Bridge.

"Obviously my heart will still be at Southend," he said. "And every Saturday afternoon I'll be looking at their results.

"I want them to be successful - not just for Southend but for Essex in general because, they're at such a good level now."