SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is confident Michael Timlin will be staying with the Shrimpers after meeting up for more talks with the midfielder.

Timlin’s stunning end to last season has attracted interest from elsewhere.

But Brown believes the 30-year-old has his sights set on staying at Roots Hall.

“I met with Michael for more talks on Sunday and I was pleased with how they went,” said the Blues boss.

“I talked through our transfer targets and mentioned four or five players who Michael seemed genuinely excited about us trying to bring in.

“There can be no denying he has offers from elsewhere and you would fully expect that after the way he ended last season.

“But I recognise how important he is to us and we’ve rewarded him what he did, because he pretty much put his life on the line for us in those play-offs.

“I think Michael wants to be with us, he knows where we want to go and I’m hopeful of getting the deal over the line.”

Timlin, who has now returned home from his honeymoon, suffered a shocking clash of heads in the first leg of the play-off semi-final at Stevenage which required 15 stitches.

But, just four days later, he bravely lined up for the second leg at Roots Hall and, wearing a protective skull-cap, he scored in the Shrimpers’ dramatic 3-1 win.

Timlin was also forced to wear the skull-cap in the play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers and was among those who scored a spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out success which secured promotion into League One.

Brown also remains in talks with centre-back Adam Thompson and midfielder Gary Deegan who will both be out of contract at the end of the month.

However, they are currently out of the country which Brown admitted had slowed down the negotiations.

“It’s a bit more difficult when players are away but negotiations are ongoing,” said Brown.

“It’s not going at a million miles per hour but things are certainly nudging along.”