Phil Brown set to be appointed as Southend United manager

PHIL Brown is expected to be unveiled as Southend’s new manager later today following yesterday’s bizarre sacking of Paul Sturrock.
The Scot was dismissed in a lengthy, poorly constructed and at times baffling statement from the chairman Ron Martin yesterday. In a unique move though, he will return to the club to take charge of the JPT final at Wembley in a fortnight, where he is expected to get an excellent reception from Blues supporters.
Brown spent six years as assistant to current west ham boss Sam Allardyce at Bolton, before taking charge of Derby, Hull City and Preston. He was dismissed as manager of the Lilywhites in December 2011 and has not been employed in a managerial role since.
Brown is a strong advocate of using sports science to anaylyse performance. He has also been involved in several controversial incidents during his managerial career to date.
All At Sea would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul Sturrock for everything he has done for the club, particularly saving the club from oblivion in his first season and some of the results and performances away from home. The bad luck the club has had with injuries this season has ultimately cost him his job. Whether Ron Martin’s decision is the correct one, only time will tell.

Marc Laird signs permanent deal with Southend United

SCOTTISH midfielder Marc Laird will remain at Southend for the next 18 months after signing permanently with the Shrimpers this morning.
Laird, 26, signed on loan from Leyton Orient in October and started 15 matches for Southend, scoring twice. His form coincided with an upturn in the team’s fortunes, seeing them shoot up from mid table to 4th place in late December.
The combative, box-to-box player joined Orient from Millwall 18 months ago but failed to hold down a place in Russell Slade’s side. The Londoners agreed to release Laird from his contract so he could join Blues on a permanent basis.
Laird will be eligible to take to the field for tomorrow’s match with Brentford at Roots Hall despite sustaining a broken tooth after being elbowed in the face by a Gillingham player on Tuesday. However, he is cup tied for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy fixture at Oxford on Tuesday.

Paul Sturrock completes belated signing of Scott Donnelly

MIDFIELDER Scott Donnelly has linked up with Southend ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Rochdale.
The former QPR and Swansea midfielder has played four times for Aldershot since joining on a short-term deal in the summer.
Donnelly had been training with Southend for much of pre-season, but due to the club’s transfer embargo, Paul Sturrock was unable to bring the attacking central midfielder on board, meaning he decided to go elsewhere for a contract.
But the former Dundee United striker moved ahead of the closure of the loan transfer window to bring in Donnelly until January to add competition for places.
He is expected to be on the bench for the mouth-watering clash between two of the division’s in-form sides at Roots Hall.

At long last – a midfielder signs on loan

PAUL Sturrock has eased his selection headaches in the centre of the park by bringing in Leyton Orient midfielder Marc Laird until January.
The 26-year-old Scot, formerly with Millwall, stands at 6ft 1ins tall and has been described as a good passer of the ball. He will challenge Alex Woodyard and John Spicer for a place in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s clash with York City.
The lack of a presence in the centre of the midfield has probably cost Blues in their last three home fixtures as well as the trip to Morecambe. Laird’s signing is good news but really needed to happen in August when Kane Ferdinand was sold to Peterborough.
Southend are also expected to agree a loan deal for Tamika Mkandawire, another ex-O’s man. The Malawi international was Millwall’s player of the year two seasons ago but has not played a first team match since November 2011 due to a knee injury. He is currently recovering from a thigh complaint, and Paul Sturrock is keeping an eye on his progress in training before a loan deal is completed.

Ferdinand set to join Posh

BLUES midfielder Kane Ferdinand is poised to join Peterborough United after Southend accepted an undisclosed bid for the teenager.
It was part of a joint bid by Posh which also involved Ryan Hall, but Blues are unwilling to part with the winger on the cheap and rejected that portion of the bid.
Ferdinand is now on his way to Peterborough to discuss terms and undergo a medical.
Blues boss Paul Sturrock is believed to be in talks with two midfielders and two strikers. However, it is believed that players will have to leave before anyone is brought in.

Corr gets new deal

STRIKER Barry Corr has been offered a new deal at Southend.
The former Sheffield Wednesday man netted 21 goals during his first season at Roots Hall but missed the entire of last season through injury.
Now he has been handed a new one-year contract by Paul Sturrock as he attempts to get fit for the new season.

Wednesday interested in Mohsni

SOURCES in Yorkshire have linked Sheffield Wednesday with a bid for Southend’s flamboyant Frenchman Bilel Mohsni.
The versatile 24-year-old, who has netted 18 goals for the club since joining in July 2010, recently had his contract at Roots Hall extended.
However, it is understood last week the newly-promoted Owls put in a bid for Mohsni, who spent most of last season on the left side of midfield, occasionally filling in at the heart of the back four or in attack.

Southend sign up Tomlin and Cresswell

PAUL Sturrock’s squad has continued to take shape in recent days with the signings of striker Gavin Tomlin and centre back Ryan Cresswell.
Tomlin spent much of last season on loan at Gillingham after falling out of favour at Dagenham. He will be known to Blues fans after
scoring a wonder goal in the fixture between the sides in February.
The 29-year-old has penned a one-year-contract at Roots Hall.
His capture was followed this afternoon by the arrival of 24-year-old Cresswell, who joins on a free from Rotherham having been transfer-listed by Millers boss Steve Evans.
Rotherham-born Cresswell started his career with Sheffield United before loan spells at Macclesfield, Halifax and Rotherham. He joined Bury in 2008 before signing for Rotherham permanently in 2010.
Today, he put pen to paper on a two-year-deal at Roots Hall.

Dickinson to leave Blues

LIAM Dickinson is looking for a new club after Southend opted against extending his contract.
The striker, who netted 12 times last season and was influential in the club’s excellent away record, had an option in his contract allowing Blues to extend the deal.
However, it would have meant the Lancastrian would have commanded a bigger wage, something the club could not afford. As a result, his agent confirmed in today’s Southend Echo Dickinson is looking for a new club.
It is believed he would favour a move north as he has a young daughter who lives in Salford.
Dickinson broke his ankle against Crawley in March, but until then led Southend’s forward line.
It leaves Blues with just two strikers – Neil Harris and Elliot Benyon – definitely under contract for next season although Barry Corr and Freddy Eastwood are thought to be in negotiations with the club.

Pre-season schedule revealed

TOTTENHAM Hotspur and Ipswich are amongst the sides to visit Roots Hall for pre-season friendlies this summer.
Blues will face a Spurs XI on Friday, August 10, and the Tractor Boys on Tuesday, July 31.
west ham will also visit Southend on July 14.
The squad will travel to Stambridge United on Monday, July 16, Great Wakering Rovers on Wednesday, July 18, Braintree on Saturday, July 21, and Dartford on Saturday, July 28.
It is believed Blues are also looking to go on a pre-season tour.