Southend to reject Bolton approach for manager Phil Brown

Southend have vowed to fight any approach from Bolton for manager Phil Brown.

Brown is odds-on favourite with the bookmakers to succeed Neil Lennon at the Sky Bet Championship strugglers.

Lennon left the Trotters on Tuesday following a seven-game winless run which has left the club rooted to the bottom of the table.

Brown has strong links with Bolton after working as assistant manager to Colin Todd and Sam Allardyce, while the club's new chief executive and former striker Dean Holdsworth is reportedly a keen admirer of the 56-year-old.

However, Shrimpers chairman Ron Martin will refuse permission for Brown to enter talks with Bolton should they make contact. 

"There has been no approach from Bolton but I wouldn't allow Phil to talk to them even if there was," Martin told the Evening Echo.

"I would also be disappointed if Phil wanted to leave us."

Brown, meanwhile, admits to being flattered by the link but says he is fully focused on his side's push for the League One play-offs.

"I'm happy as manager of Southend United but I am ambitious I want to get back to the highest possible level," he added.

"I want to have another crack at the Premier League but I have a big job on my hands with Southend and that's all I'm focusing on at the moment.

"Speculation is always flattering because it means you're doing well but all I'm thinking about is Southend and I would like to think our performance at Barnsley on Saturday showed that."