SOUTHEND United have rejected an offer from Reading for left-back Ben Coker.

Echosport understands the Royals offered less than £100,000 for the 27-year-old.

But Blues boss Phil Brown believes he could now have a fight on his hands to keep the defender at the club.

“Ben made it clear to me at the end of last season that he wants to play at a higher level but it’s good a thing for a player to have ambition like that,” said Brown.

“Obviously we would prefer him to stay with us and help us get promoted into the Championship because that’s something we all want.

“But we are faced with something of ab conundrum now as a football club.

“However, one thing we definitely won’t be doing is selling Ben on the cheap.

“He has two years left on his contract with another year option on top of that so we’re in a strong position where that’s concerned.”

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