SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown has revealed he just missed out on bringing attacking midfielder Harry Forrester to the club.

Brown had been hopeful of bringing the 25-year-old to Blues from Doncaster Rovers.

But he eventually opted to join Glasgow Rangers for an undisclosed fee.

"We just missed out on bringing Harry in," confirmed Brown.

"It was all very positive but he eventually decided to go to a manager he had worked with before and is apparently close friends with."

Forrester worked with Rangers boss Mark Warburton at Brentford where he netted 11 times in 69 appearances before joining Doncaster in July 2013.

The midfielder lined up 66 times for Rovers and scored 11 times before falling out of favour following the appointment of Darren Ferguson.

But he will now be looking to kick start his career in Scotland, leaving Brown to look elsewhere to bolster his squad.