SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is to sign an extended contract before the start of the new season, Echosport can reveal.

Brown’s current deal expires in the summer of 2018.

But the 57-year-old is close to agreeing another contract which would extend his stint in charge of the Shrimpers by a further year.

Brown – who has been in charge of Blues since March 2013 – is currently away on holiday.

However, the deal will be signed shortly after he returns with only one paragraph of the new contract offer needing to be finalised.

Brown led Blues to the League Two play-offs in his first season in charge before guiding them to promotion the following campaign, also via the play-offs.

Last season he led the Shrimpers to a 15th place finish in League One but, despite strong speculation linking him with a return to Bolton Wanderers, he remained at Roots Hall and is now keen to secure a higher finish next season.