Southend United boss Phil Brown has revealed he's turned down an approach from Sunderland.

Sam Allardyce was hoping to be reunited with his former Bolton Wanderers No2.

“The opportunity was put to me to go to Sunderland but, after talking with the chairman here, I've decided to stay at Southend," said South Shields-born Brown to the Evening Chronicle.

“It was something I did think about for a couple of days and I was considering what would be best for me to do.

“But I still have ambitions I want to achieve at Southend and I also want to try and get to 1,000 games as a manager as well.

“That's something I've always wanted to do and I'm not going to do it if I go and become an assistant somewhere."