RICHARD Eckersley will not be lining up again for Southend United.

The 26-year-old full-back was the only trialist to feature for the Shrimpers at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

But the former Manchester United trainee will not be handed a contract by Blues boss Phil Brown.

“Richard is a lovely lad and he has a fantastic attitude but I just don’t think he’s as good as John White and Ben Coker,” said Brown.

“If you’re going to improve then you need to bring in players who are better than you already have at the club and I just didn’t think that was the case with Richard.

“I said the same to him at the end of the game and I think he appreciated the honesty.

“But I really do hope he gets himself fixed up because he’s been great to work with.”