Phil Brown Phil Brown exits Southend with board citing ‘unacceptable performances’ • Poor results and lack of squad discipline given as key reasons• Club one point above relegation zone after seven defeats in eight Phil Brown has been placed on gardening leave by Southend United pending his departure from the club. Photograph: Graham Whitby/SUFC/Rex/ShutterstockSouthend’s manager, Phil Brown, is set to leave the club after he was placed on gardening leave with the board citing unacceptable performances from the team and a lack of discipline within the squad. Brown took over in March 2013 and led Southend to promotion from League Two via the play-offs two years later. In a statement issued on Wednesday the club said: “Recent performances have been unacceptable and in the board’s view the lack of discipline, Nile Ranger a case in point, has only served to compound the position. The statement read: “Additionally the club has today terminated the employment agreements of Graham Coughlan (assistant manager), Brian Horton (football coordinator) and Bob Shaw (head of recruitment).

Source: The Guardian January 17, 2018 17:26 UTC