SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown has revealed he was interested in bringing defender Ryan Cresswell back to Roots Hall during the summer.

Cresswell could line up for Northampton Town against the Shrimpers this weekend after recovering from a knee injury.

But, if things had worked out differently, the 27-year-old could well have been back at Blues who he left in July 2013 to join Fleetwood Town.

“I was certainly interested in going back in for Ryan at the start of the season,” confirmed Southend boss Phil Brown.

“However, it was to do with finances that we couldn’t carry it through.

“Fleetwood paid £150,000 for him from us and they wanted their money back so there was no way he was going to come to us on the cheap.

“If anything we were going to have to pay £150,000 for him ourselves which wasn’t going to happen.”

As a result, Cresswell ended up joining Northampton.

But Brown is certain the Cobblers would not have had to stump up the same amount of money.

“Northampton had no prior relationship with Fleetwood and, while I don’t know what the deal was for him to go there, it wouldn’t have been as much as if he was going to come back to us,” said Brown.

“It was a shame but we had to pull away.”

Cresswell bagged eight goals in 54 games during the 2012/13 season for the Shrimpers.

However, none of Blues’ current centre-backs have hit the back of the net so far this term.

And that remains a huge frustration for Brown.

“It’s big headlines for me but it’s not from the want of trying that it hasn’t happened,” said the Shrimpers chief.

“We actually had 12 corners against Dagenham on Sunday and eight times we got our head to it first.

“That should increase the chances of our scoring but maybe I should be demanding what we get when we’re defending set pieces.

“If you have that right mentality then you’ll get cut eyes, stitches and will spill claret.

“We get it unmercifully when defending set pieces but we need that intent at the other end now. “ Blues head in to tomorrow’s game sitting sixth in the League Two table ahead of Northampton who are in 20th position.