SOUTHEND United have launched an appeal against Phil Brown’s latest touch-line ban.

A Football Association commission has handed Brown a two match suspension after he was ordered from the dug-out at Bolton Wanderers at the start of September.

But Blues chairman Ron Martin has revealed the club will be contesting the decision and another hearing will now be taking place next week.

“The FA commission have proposed a two match touchline ban for Phil and a small fine but the club still feel aggrieved and do not concur with the findings,” said Martin.

“We will now be launching an appeal and that will be heard next week.”

Brown – who also served a four match touchline ban at the start of the season after being sent off at Bury on the final day of the previous campaign - was dismissed on his return to Macron Stadium after referee Seb Stockbridge did not award Southend a free-kick.

“It was said that Phil had used industrial language after Ryan Leonard was not given a free-kick but what he said was aimed at the incident not towards the referee who, in any case, won’t have heard what was said,” said Martin.

“The commission found that on the balance of probability Phil did aim what he said towards the referee but he continues to deny this.

“He was angry at the situation as we would have had a three on one situation had Ryan Leonard not been chopped down.”

Brown is free to stay on the touchline until Blues’ appeal is heard next week.