ANTON Ferdinand is confident Phil Brown can get Southend United back on track.

Brown has returned to Roots Hall for a second spell in charge.

And former Shrimpers captain Ferdinand, who will be back at Blues as a BT Sport summariser for Saturday’s clash with Stockport County, is certain Brown will make a difference.

“If there’s somebody who can do it, it’s Phil Brown,” said Ferdinand.

“No matter what the fans might think about him, he loves football and the club.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve and brings experience the club haven’t had for a few years.

“He can bring stability back as well.”

Ferdinand made 70 appearances for Blues before leaving in the summer of 2018.

But since the defender’s departure, the Shrimpers have suffered back to back relegations and now find themselves in the National League, much to the frustration of Ferdinand.

“It’s so sad to see Southend out of the Football League,” said Ferdinand.

“The fans are brilliant and there are some great people who work there.”

But Ferdinand did sense things were starting to go wrong even before he left Roots Hall.

“Things started to go wrong when Chris Powell got rid of any of the pro’s who had a voice, who played with conviction and that it meant something to,” said Ferdinand.

“Those players are the ones who had a voice in the dressing room.

“But the following year you saw a lot of young players in the team and they weren’t ready.

“That for me was the catalyst for Southend going the way they did and why they aren’t in the Football League anymore.”