A SHORTLIST of five candidates has been drawn up for the new role of under-21 manager at Southend United.

The interviewing process for the job began this week.

And Shrimpers boss Phil Brown has been incredibly impressed by the standard of the applicants.

“We’ve had a number of top class people apply for the position and it’s been great to see,” said Brown.

“We’ve drawn up a list of five people we will be talking to and then we will go from there.”

Blues will run an under 21 team for the first time next season with last season’s second year scholars all being kept on to play in the side.