Phil Brown on managing Nile Ranger at Southend United and whether he would sign him again

The controversial striker looks set to be offered a second chance with the Shrimpers.

But Brown, who bossed Ranger for 18 months at Roots Hall, looks back fondly on his own spell with the forward.

“To be fair I have nothing but fond memories of my time managing Nile,” said Brown.

“I like a challenge and he provided one without a shadow of a doubt.

“It was a big challenge but we knew the potential and we knew the player.

“But you don’t sign for top teams in England and then have to come down to the lower divisions for no other reason than there was a lot of issues off the field of play.”

Ranger initially joined Blues on trial in the summer of 2016 before being handed a contract and making a memorable debut against Sheffield United.

“My fondest memory was walking into Chris Wilder’s office after we beat Sheffield United 3-0 at their place and they were absolutely shell-shocked,” said Brown.

“Nile played for the first 25 minutes and single-handedly held the ball up and occupied two of their central defenders.

“Unfortunately he got injured but we put a strategy in place to try and ease his issues off the field of play just to get him out there.

“And I would definitely say he was one of the better players at the club at that moment in time.”

Ranger has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons throughout his career and served a one month suspension for a breach of club discipline while with the Shrimpers before also spending 10 weeks in prison for online fraud.

But, despite not knowing whether Ranger has changed, Brown still feels the striker would be a good signing for Blues.

“His off the field activities are well documented and I won’t for one minute pretend that they have changed drastically but he is getting older and at some stage the penny has to drop,” said Brown.

“Whether it’s too late for that I don’t know but with regards to Southend’s situation I don’t think it would be a bad signing if you can get him out there and that was always the biggest issue.”

Ranger scored 10 goals in 49 games for Blues and missed out on a further 34 matches due to a variety of issues.

But Blues will know what to expect.

“You’ve got a chairman who knows exactly what he’s signing and how much it’s going to cost,” said Brown.

“The manager will have to put a strategy in place with regards to the individual but I’m not teaching anyone how to suck eggs there.

“You have to have a plan in place because the player is physically not up to speed I wouldn’t imagine.

“Mentally he’s been a challenge for himself let alone a manager but I don’t know exactly what Nile has been doing since he left Southend.”

Ranger eventually left Roots Hall in January 2018 when a number off issues meant it was best for the striker to move on.

“There were time keeping issues and discipline issues off the field and that spilled into a changing room which was quite strong,” said Brown.

“The ill disciplined side of his life was everybody’s business and that’s what turned the changing room against him in the end.

“Everyone and their mate has an opinion about Nile, whether you know him or not.

“He’s that kind of complex character but he was one of our better players and when he was out there he contributed to the team winning.

“He had a goal him in and good hold up play.

“It was just his fitness levels that needed to improve and his lifestyle probably didn’t help that.”

However, Brown does not feel Ranger should be described as a disruptive influence.

“He’s a nice kid but he’s been misled and led up the garden path,” said Brown.

“His garden path is a different one to mine and yours too.

“Southend are in by no means the last chance saloon but Nile has probably in that for about the last four or five years.

“He seems to like it there and keeps going there so there’s something unusual there you can’t get to the bottom off.

“If you did try I think it would probably send you to an early grave too.”

Brown left Blues shortly after Ranger’s departure and is now back working in India where he had previously been managing.

“I’m working for IMG Reliance who are big players with Indian football and I’m the expert analyst,” said Brown.

“I took this opportunity to keep my eye in where football is concerned and I’m watching every game.

“I’m here until mid-March and hopefully when I come back I can get a job back in England because that’s my ambition.”