ADAM Barrett has emerged as the bookies favourite to take over from Chris Powell at Southend – though a report claims the Shrimpers have yet to make an approach for their former captain.
Southend sacked former Charlton boss Powell after a winless run of 11 games left them 20th in League One, above Walsall in the last relegation spot only on goal difference.
Barrett, 39, played more than 300 times for Southend across two spells before his retirement from playing in February 2017.
He moved into a coaching career the following month when he joined Millwall as first-team development coach.
Ricky Duncan, the academy boss now in interim charge as Southend try to avoid relegation to League Two, is the second favourite, while Kevin Nolan and Steve Evans are also being linked with the job.
Barrett is hugely popular with Southend fans. He won successive promotions from League Two and League One in 2005 and 2006.
He left in 2010 and had spells at Crystal Palace and Bournemouth before returning in January 2015 and playing in that season’s League Two play-off final with current Lions midfielder Ryan Leonard as Southend secured promotion by beating Wycombe on penalties at Wembley.
Barrett is odds-on with Sky Bet to become Southend’s next permanent manager, but the Southend Echo are reporting that no approach has been made to Millwall.
Image: Millwall FC