PHIL Brown feels Will Atkinson would not have been allowed to leave Southend United had the Shrimpers still had a chief executive.

The energetic midfielder left Blues in the summer of 2017 after a delay in offering him a new deal.

And Brown is certain Atkinson would have rmained at Roots Hall if Steve Kavanagh was still at the club in his chief executive role.

"Will Atkinson was one we could’ve kept," said Brown.

"I don’t want to go too much into it but if Steve Kavanagh was still around at the time I think a deal would’ve been done.

"Will was offered a deal verbally by the powers that be and he accepted it on the phone.

"But then the next thing I heard was he was in a car on the way to Mansfield.

"Will was a powerhouse in our changing room let alone the team.

"He provided unbelievable energy and was the heart and soul of the midfield for a number of years."

Atkinson made 175 apperances for the Shrimpers during a four year spell.