SOUTHEND United midfielder Phil Brown fears Gary Deegan might have played his last game for the football club.

Deegan, whose initial three month deal with the Shrimpers has now expired, was left out of the Shrimpers squad at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.

And Brown believes the midfielder could be about to join someone else.

“Gary seems quite relaxed about it all and I’m thinking that maybe he has something else on the table,” said Brown.

“I don’t know that for sure but he’s been playing so well that someone else might have come in and if that’s the case then good luck to him.

“I want to keep him because he gives us something different and I still hope he stays here.

“But it’s not a never ending budget or a never ending squad number either.

“And the bottom line is I’ve offered Gary a deal but he hasn’t accepted it yet.”

The uncertainty surrounding Deegan’s was also the reason he did not make the matchday squad at Prenton Park as he was replaced on the bench by his fellow Irishman Conor Clifford.

“It was between Conor Clifford and Gary for a place on the bench but Conor is definitely with us for the next six months and I have to go with the players who are with us,” said Brown.

“Gary hasn’t signed his contract and his deal with us has run out now so we will have to see what happens in the week.”