Southend United have released their retained list for the end of the 2015/16 campaign. Manager Phil Brown has elected to let seven players leave Roots Hall, saying that he wants the club to move in a different direction after a poor end to the season.
It was widely expected that Brown would become the next manager at former club Bolton Wanderers, however the fact he is making preparations for next season and the tone of his comments suggests he is planning on staying.
The highest profile of those to be moving on from the club is midfielder Kevan Hurst. He appeared over 150 times for The Shrimpers over four years. He was part of the promotion team which made it to League One in 2015 and the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy a few years earlier.
Veteran striker Noel Hunt will also be leaving. The former Reading and Ipswich Town man featured 22 times for the club, scoring just four goals in return. The Waterford-born forward is now searching for a new club. Considering his age, it is clear what Brown meant what he suggested he wanted to go in a different direction for next season.
Tricky winger Myles Weston joins those in exiting the club. His season has largely be plagued because of injuries, but when fully-fit, he has proved at this level that he can be the menace of most right backs. He played in the League Two Play-Off Final win over Wycombe Wanderers as well.
Also moving on is Cian Bolger, Luke Prosser and Jamar Loza.
It has also been mutually agreed that Gary Deegan also leaves Roots Hall. He had a year remaining on his contract, but after discussions between the player and Brown, it was decided to end his association early.
Speaking on the retained list, Brown gave his thoughts on his thinking behind some of the hard decisions he had to make,
“I just feel with the way we finished the season, for me it’s time to move the club in a different direction and take the club forward again.
“I just feel we were a little bit stagnate at the end of the season and it is time for me to stir up the water again.
“Now it’s up to the players who are now left at the football club plus the new players we are targeting to take the club to the next level.”
