Chris Powell appointed Southend United manager, ending Tottenham scouting work

Former Charlton manager Chris Powell has been named Southend United boss, replacing Phil Brown.

The 48-year-old, who had been working as a Tottenham scout on an ad-hoc basis, has been handed a two-and-a-half year deal after Brown was put on gardening leave.

The former left-back spent six years of his playing career at Roots Hall, making 290 appearances. His last job was as assistant manager to Steve McClaren at Derby.

Powell takes charge of the Shrimpers with his former club sat just a point above the relegation zone in League One.

He started his managerial career at Charlton, winning the League One title in 2012, and joined Huddersfield in September 2014 but won just 15 of his 58 games in charge and was sacked just over a year later.

Southend have one win in eight in the League, the onus is on Powell to turn their form around in his first game at home to Scunthorpe on Saturday.