SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown feels the Shrimpers are sending a message out to the rest of the National League with their signings.

Blues have already brought in James Dunne, Josh Coulson and Jack Bridge while Rhys Murphy is also sent to join.

And Brown believes it is showing his side mean business. 

"Both players have been announced today and it’s sending a message out to the rest of the league, but also our supporters that I think we mean business,” said Brown.

"We’re putting a team together that is going to compete at all levels and hopefully, because we can have a full pre-season under our belt, we can start off in a confident way."

The Shrimpers remain in talks with other transfer targets and Brown is keen to keep progressing. 

"As far as I’m concerned, ticking the boxes in the background is sometimes bigger and better than ticking the boxes in the foreground," said Brown.

"Qhat I mean by that is the announcement of players is just the icing of the cake, the pinnacle of it.

"It’s all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes that gets you to this moment.

"I’m hoping this is a good day for Southend United and there’s going to be three or four more before the start of pre-season."