SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown believes signing David Mooney and Anthony Wordsworth, along with keeping hold of Michael Timlin fires out a real statement of intent from the Shrimpers.

As was revealed first in Echosport, Mooney and Wordsworth have both signed two year deals with the Shrimpers while the influential Timlin has also signed a new contract to keep him at Roots Hall until the summer of 2017.

And Brown is thrilled to be working with all three players at Roots Hall as Blues make the step up into League One next season.

“I think bringing in people of the calibre of David Mooney and Anthony Wordsworth to the football club and keeping someone as sought after as Michael Timlin is a real statement of our intent for next season,” said Brown.

“We had been talking to David for quite some time but you can never be certain about these things until it’s completed so I’m absolutely delighted to have signed a player of his quality.

“We’ve done our homework on him and he works incredibly hard. He will fit into the way we play and will bring more out of the players around him.

“I really do think this is a significant signing, along with Anthony, which indicates what direction the club are heading in and keeping Michael is massively important too.”

Timlin played a hugely significant part in the Shrimpers’ promotion from League Two last season, bravely lining up in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Stevenage just four days after suffering a horrific cut on his forehead which required 15 stitches.

Timlin also scored in the second leg before lining up in the final against Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley.

And Brown revealed the midfielder’s heroics attracted interest from a whole host of other clubs.

“Michael was wanted by 12 or 13 other clubs so keeping him here is fantastic,” said the 56-year-old.

“I think he is someone who has now fallen in love with Southend United and staying here was always his first choice.

“We got together earlier on in the week and was expecting a long meeting but it was all completed in 20 minutes which again showed how much he wants to be here.

“I’m very happy to have kept him and he will have an important part to play again for us next season.”