IN HIS own playing career, Phil Brown made more than 650 League appearances after spells with Hartlepool United, Halifax Town, Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool.

After hanging up his boots, Brown became assistant to Sam Allardyce at Blackpool before also spending six years alongside him at Bolton.

Brown's first managerial role lasted just seven months at Derby County before he took charge at Hull City and led the Tigers into the Premier League.

Brown left Hull in March 2010 and also had 11 months as Preston North End boss before coming to Southend United in March 2013.

2012/2013

Brown took charge of Blues’ final eight games of the season during a run of matches which included a 2-0 defeat to Crewe Alexandra in the JPT Trophy final at Wembley.

Brown triumphed in just one of his seven League games in charge and the Shrimpers ended the season in 11th, eight points outside the play-offs.

Echo:

Flashback - Phil Brown (left) was first appointed Blues boss in March 2013

2013/14

Southend finished Brown’s first full season in charge in fifth position.

However, Blues were beaten by Burton Albion in the semi-finals of the League Two play-offs, losing 3-2 on aggregate.

2014/15

A season that will live long in the memory.

Southend missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the League Two season, losing 3-1 at Morecambe.

But Blues bounced back to win the play-offs in thrilling fashion as Joe Pigott netted an injury time equaliser against Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley before Brown’s side triumphed on penalties.

Echo:

Promotion - Blues won the League Two play-offs in 2015

2015/16

Southend finished their first season back in League One in 15th place.

Blues secured a memorable double over local rivals Colchester but seemed to run out of steam and failed to win any of their final seven games.

2016/17

An improved season saw the Shrimpers end the campaign in seventh place, just a point outside the League One play-offs.

Blues secured 72 points but missed out on the final day with Millwall just pipping them to sixth place.

2017/18

Blues sat ninth at the start of December before a dramatic loss of form saw them slide down the standings.

A run of eight defeats in nine games led to Brown being dismissed in January 2018.

Echo:

Moving on - Phil Brown left Blues in January 2018

What happened next?

Brown was named as manager of Swindon Town in March 2018 but he was sacked the following November with the Robins 17th in League Two.

The 61-year-old then headed to India where he had spells in charge of both Pune City and Hyderabad.

Brown had also been working as a pundit in India, a role he finished in March.

What he said

Speaking in July, Brown said he would be keen to come back to Blues.

He told Echosport: “I’ve had no contact from Ron Martin but would I be interested? Absolutely. It’s always flattering to be linked to jobs, especially if it’s somewhere you’ve been before because it means you must have done a good job.”

Brown worked with Blues players Mark Oxley, Elvis Bwomono, Harry Kyprianou, John White and Nile Ranger during his first spell at Roots Hall.

Echo:

Reunited - Blues boss Phil Brown has already worked with Nile Ranger

However, the news comes as a surprise after Ron Martin publically spoke of his support for Mark Molesley.

Just 16 days ago, Martin said: “Last night I told the manager I wouldn’t be dismissing him and he will be here at the end of the season, as will all his staff.

“He needs to have that support to have the confidence to instil in the players.

“No one should be disrupting him at this moment and I have no intention of sacking Mark.

“We need stability in the club and in the management.”

Brown’s first game back at the club will come at home to Crawley Town on Saturday.

The Shrimpers are second from bottom in League Two, five points from safety with just six games to go.

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