SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is willing to work with anyone for the good of the Shrimpers.

Chairman Ron Martin remains in talks with popular ex Blues striker Stan Collymore and a prospective new chief executive.

And Brown is keen for the club to be structured in the right way with the right people in charge.

“I’ll work with anyone as long as they’re honest with me and they’re prepared to sit down and discuss the finer details in the running of the club behind closed doors,” said Brown.

“But more people doesn’t automatically make things better, quality is what we’re looking at.

“If I’m having conversations with two or three people at the club before I can get to the chairman there in itself lies a problem.

“I have to have direct lines of communication to my owner and my chairman.

“Fortunately for me that’s one person, not two.”

Ex Shrimpers striker Collymore is keen to help get his former club back on track after back to back relegations.

And Brown already has links with Collymore.

“I know Stan and I’ve known Stan for a number of years,” said Brown.

“I know he for being a great footballer, for making a lot of money for this football club and for being an outspoken man in the media.

“Outspoken can mean honest and being a big enough character not to be frightened about whatever he’s saying being heard.

“When you’re coming into football club some things have to be confidential.

You can’t go blurting out conversations you’ve had behind closed doors “I think there’s only got to be to one spokesman for a football club and that’s the manager and how he plays.

“Outside of that it’s just confusion and I don’t want to confuse the issue.

“I’ll leave that decision to the chairman if Stan Collymore comes in and what role he has.”