Phil Brown set to leave Southend United after being placed on gardening leave
Phil Brown is set to depart Southend United after being placed on gardening leave by the League One club.
The Shrimpers released a statement on Wednesday afternoon stating that Brown would step aside "whilst a settlement agreement is completed".
Brown, 58, has been in charge at Roots Hall for nearly five years and led the club to promotion via the League Two play-offs in 2015.
The Blues narrowly missed out on the chance for another promotion last season, ending the campaign one point shy of the League One play-offs, and they were hoping for another promotion push this term.
But the team has been in freefall following a run of poor results, losing eight of their last nine games, leaving them 18th in the table and just two points above the relegation zone.
"The club has today placed its manager, Phil Brown, on gardening leave whilst a settlement agreement is completed," said the statement.
"Additionally the club has today terminated the employment agreements of Graham Coughlan (assistant manager), Brian Horton (football coordinator) and Bob Shaw (head of recruitment).
"We wish to thank Phil Brown's back room staff and especially Graham Coughlan who has been a loyal employee of the club, contributed continuously and without reservation, for some eight years."
Brown took over in March 2013 and led Southend to promotion from League Two via the play-offs two years later, but off-field problems have blighted his tenure, including former Newcastle striker Nile Ranger having his contract with terminated in January because of "re-occurring disciplinary issues".
The statement continued: "Recent performances have been unacceptable and in the board's view the lack of discipline, Nile Ranger a case in point, has only served to compound the position.
"The club's success as we enter a new era is paramount and we shall adopt a zero tolerance in our efforts to achieve this objective."
Southend added that the club has "identified a principal target and subject to securing his services will be tasked with replacing the management team without delay."
Southend travel to Rochdale, who are second from bottom of the table, on Saturday.