The order of business is quality, not quantity at Southend United this summer, with manager Phil Brown adding just three players to his squad so far.

The Shrimpers return to pre season on the back of an excellent year in League One in which the club narrowly missed out on the play-off spots, and Brown will feel confident that his side can emulate their efforts of the previous year by breaking into the top six.

Southend were very good in the league, scoring 70 goals and conceding just 53, and Brown has moved to improve both tallies this summer.

Stephen Hendrie and Michael Turner have joined Brown’s defensive ranks, and the former Hull boss has added Michael Kightly out wide, a player who impressed while on loan in the Championship with Burton last season.

The signing of Turner in recent days however is a real coup for the Shrimpers, with the former Norwich man an extremely experienced head with a real aura of quality about him.

The 33-year-old has enjoyed a prosperous career across the Football League and Premier League, and still has much to offer despite entering the latter stages of his career.

Turner will excel in the third tier of English football, and his calm nature will be a welcome addition to Brown’s back line ahead of what is set to be a long campaign.

Turner knows what it takes to achieve promotion having done so with Norwich, and Brown will hope the former Brentford defender will marshall his back line, and lead the Shrimpers to the promise land of the Championship.