Phil Brown reveals where he thinks Southend United will finish in the National League next season as he stays on as their manager.
The Shrimpers were relegated from the Football League for the first time in 101 years despite winning at Barrow on the 1st of May 2020.
Now it’s expected that a big number of players will be axed this summer in the hope of getting them back to League Two for the 2022/23 season.
š We’re delighted to announce that Phil Brown has agreed a contract that will see him remain as manager at the club.
š https://t.co/W7XCfbqBhv#Blues pic.twitter.com/nPrPg4231Z
ā Southend United (@SUFCRootsHall) May 11, 2021
CLUB STATEMENT:
Southend United are delighted to announce that Phil Brown has agreed a contract to remain as Blues manager.
Brown returned to the club for the final six games of the 2020/21 Sky Bet League Two season and led Blues to two wins, three draws and one defeat in that time.
Chairman Ron Martin met Brown in North Oxford on Sunday and they agreed terms, with formalities expected to be complete from both sides in the morning, to swiftly begin preparations ahead of the National League 2021/22 campaign.
Brown said: “Uncertainty is a big word in the game of football. To kill any uncertainty, to give clarity to everybody and show people which direction we are going in at this early stage is key.
“Everything has been agreed in principle and Iām a man of my honour, and Iām sure the Chairman is too. As far as weāre concerned, weāll go forward together.
“We need to move things on quickly and relegation is never a nice feeling.
“I took the six games to back myself and probably in hindsight it was maybe two games short, but thatās life. I accepted the six games because I wanted to prove to the Chairman that I can motivate a group of players and win games of football and I was delighted to get my 100th win as Southend United manager. That was a very proud moment for me.
“With that in mind, I hope it doesnāt finish there.
“Iāve signed a two-year deal which is geared towards promotion and then it becomes a third year automatically, which I shook hands on and Iām going to back myself to do.
“Hopefully I can get to 200 wins in that short space of time, and if thatās the case then certainly promotion is on the cards, if not back-to-back promotions. Letās take one step at a time.”
Brown was previously Blues boss for five years, succeeding Paul Sturrock in 2013, and achieved promotion to League One in 2015 via a playoff final penalty shoot-out win at Wembley.
Prior to that he led Hull to the Premier League for the first time in the Tigersā history, in the play-offs, before retaining Hullās status in the top-flight the following season.
The ex-Hartlepool, Halifax, Bolton and Blackpool defender has also managed Derby, Preston, Swindon before a move to the Indian Super League with Pune City in 2018.
Brown has begun discussions with players.
“Weāve got a squad to build,ā he added. “Iāve had 20 individual conversations in the last two days and Iāve got another 10 tomorrow with players who are staying, players who are going, players who will be offered deals, players who are already existing under contract who I want at the football club and players I donāt want at the football club.
“All of them conversations have been ongoing in the last couple of days, and in the background Iāve been trying to do my own deal.
“These things can take time, we want everything to be spot on and Iām happy with what Iāve agreed and Iām happy with how the Chairman wants to take the club forward.
“I think heās had enough of losing, heās had enough of back-to-back relegations and quite simply he wants to get it back to where it was when I left. That would be a great achievement if we could do that in the space of two or three years, so thatās the challenge for us.”
Fans reacted as Phil Brown reveals where he thinks Southend United will finish in the National League…
@DonsEssex: Thoughts are with the bloke who used to stand at the back of the East Greens and shout at Phil Brown to the point it sounded like it was going to have a coronary…this will be difficult day for him. I will back Brown & bite my tongue to a point. I really hope Iām proved wrong.
@SteveyAsp: Iāll give him until Christmas, one thing Iāve learnt about the National League is that you need a manager and players that know the division.
@tashkentterror: As if being relegated into the National League wasn’t bad enough for Southend fans.
@SouthendUnited9: Hope to see a more physical team next season, a bit more determination on the ball and eager to break the other team
@mattysufc: All I want is a steady ship. I hope@he can manage that.
@RyanStubbs_: Delighted that this has been put to bed so soon. I understand that PB isnāt to everybodyās liking but in my opinion, as a non league club we are lucky to have such an experienced manager taking us forward.
@ShaunMalone1997: I still think the treatment of Mark and the way he was thrown under bus was a shameful chapter in this club’s history, but that chapter is closed with this announcement. Time to back Phil and hope the help comes with it from above to save our club and bounce straight back up
@WahlbergBlue: If he gets to 200 wins – heās on 101 – in that time weāre in for a hell of a couple of years!
@VScott2701: I honestly thought heād bail āwhenā we got relegated and I am SO happy I was wrong!!
@Chris_Ransom: Great manager. Bit of a maverick though. Not afraid to break the law if he thinks it’s necessary. He’s not a criminal, you know, but he will, perhaps, travel 80mph on the motorway if, for example, he wants to get somewhere quickly.
@Kaylalula: Brilliant news, look forward to seeing him when we’re back in the stadium
@deanobaby89: This is great news ! Should’ve got him in months ago and would’ve saved the blues league status but am confident will get the blues back up as champions!
@Simon_Dodd: Nice words. Hard work starts now.
@propertyash: Finally some good news. Let’s get behind Brownie and bring the good times back….. Timlin next?!?!
@BuersKeith: Good news, hopefully we can get straight back up!
@JukeBox2001: That was crucial lads we have to bounce back up like orient did! Cant afford to become the next barnet or dagenham
@naad63: Absolutely chuffed, letās get this club back to where it belongs
@Seymourc30: Start ripping them contracts up boss
@memecabinet: i’m strangely conflicted about this. we’ll see what’s happening in august.
@bigdaver84: the tanning booths of Southend will be rubbing their hands in delight
@SearchTerry: Guaranteed it was PB that instigated this deal so quickly. Ron has a manager now that is pulling the strings, no more dilly dallying around, time u make some @SUFCRootsHall fans happy again Mr Brown.
ā Billy Chalk (@BillyChalk98) May 11, 2021
You must be logged in to post a comment Login