SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown will not be bringing Jamal Campbell-Ryce back to the club.

Brown met with the winger, who has had two previous spells with the Shrimpers, for discussions following his release from Sheffield United.

But he has decided against signing the 33-year-old.

“I won’t be following that one up,” confirmed Brown.

“I looked at his age and his return and I want players who can push for places for all 46 games.

“We will have a smaller squad this year and I don’t want people here playing 25 games because that’s the wrong kind of mentality to have.”

Campbell-Ryce made 16 appearances while on loan with Blues during the 2005/06 season before coming back to the club on a permanent basis at the start of the next season.

The winger made a further 53 appearances before joining Barnsley in August 2007.

Since then the former Jamaican international has lined up for Bristol City, Leyton Orient, Notts County and Chesterfield, as well as Sheffield United, and has made more than 460 appearances during his career.

But Brown will still be looking to sign another winger.

“We saw what Jermaine McGlashan was all about at the weekend against Wakering and I want something similar on the right-hand side now as well,” said the Shrimpers boss.

“I’m looking to bring in a replacement for David Worrall on that wing and we do have a few other options we’re looking at.

“I also think Luke O’’Neill could play there and that’s something we will try again in pre-season,” the manager added.

But Brown is also looking to strengthen elsewhere.

“We need centre halves and strikers as well,” said Brown.

“This season we’re looking at having a squad of 20 with maybe two loanees on top of that so there’s still work to be done on who we want to bring in.”