Southend ask Chesterfield for permission to speak to James Rowe over manager vacancy at Roots Hall

Southend ask fellow National League club Chesterfield for permission to speak to boss James Rowe over manager vacancy at Roots Hall

  • Southend have asked Chesterfield for permission to speak to James Rowe
  • The Shrimpers sacked Phil Brown on Saturday after a 4-0 loss to Chesterfield 
  • Rowe has taken the Derbyshire club to 4th in the National League so far this term
  • Southend exited the Football League for the first time in 101 years in May


Southend United have formally requested permission to speak to Chesterfield boss James Rowe over the managerial vacancy at Roots Hall.

The National League strugglers, who dropped out of the Football League for the first time in 101 years in May, sacked Phil Brown and his assistant Craig Fagan on Saturday after a 4-0 defeat to Chesterfield left them fourth from bottom.

Rowe has transformed the Derbyshire club’s fortunes since arriving from Gloucester City 11 months ago. He left Gloucester undefeated at the top of the National League North, and then took Chesterfield out of the relegation zone and into the play-offs last season. 

Southend have asked Chesterfield to speak to James Rowe (above) about their manager role

The National League strugglers sacked old boss Phil Brown (above) over the weekend

The National League strugglers sacked old boss Phil Brown (above) over the weekend

They are currently in fourth position after losing just one of their 11 games this season.

Southend hope Rowe can do a similar job for them having struggled in the fifth tier, and made a formal approach to Chesterfield on Tuesday night asking permission to hold talks with the 38-year-old.

Rowe has earned a reputation as a manager who can get results playing good football, and has a win ratio of 35 wins in 57 games in the last calendar year.

Although he would be working with a bigger budget at Southend, it’s understood that the terms of the deal would still have to be right for him to swap a team bidding for promotion for one at the other end of the table.

Southend dropped out of the Football League for the first time in 101 years in May

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