Matt Mundy reports on the gossip linking the Southend manager with a potential Premiership job.
Southend United manager Phil Brown has refuted talk linking him with the vacant manager’s job at Bolton Wanderers.
The Championship side are without a manager after they parted company with ex-Shrimpers striker Dougie Freedman last Friday.
But Brown has played down the speculation, telling the Southend Echo that he’s happy at Roots Hall.
“People keep asking me the question about whether or not I’m going there but it’s just speculation as far as I’m concerned,” said Brown.
“I’ve heard nothing at all and I’ve got a job to do at Southend United which I still very much want to finish.
“I think they’ve [the rumours] just started because I was there for 15 years as a player, coach and manager.”
Brown took caretaker charge at the Trotters before Sam Allardyce was appointed in 1999, before becoming his assistant for six years.
Having made a career as a manager himself – notably guiding Hull City to the Premier League – he became Southend manager in 2013, missing out on promotion last season with defeat to Burton Albion in the play-offs.
However, with his contract ending at the end of the season and a new offer not on the table, his future hangs in the balance.
“It was verbally put to me about a new contract and we spoke about a long-term plan I would be happy to be a part of and that’s still very much the case,” he added.
“I haven’t had an actual contract offer put in front of me though and I now only have seven or eight months left on my current deal.
“I’m just focusing on Southend United and would definitely like to be here longer.”