Southend boss Phil Brown looking forward to working with Norwich City reject Michael Turner next season

Southend have agreed terms with Michael Turner following the expiry of the experienced defender’s Norwich City contract.

The 33-year-old is poised to rejoin his former Hull boss Phil Brown and his former Sunderland centre-back partner Anton Ferdinand at Roots Hall.

Turner was among seven senior players told by City they would not be getting new deals this summer and has now flown out to Spain with the League One side for pre-season training.

“We’ve agreed a deal in principle with Michael that will hopefully be signed at the end of this trip,” Brown told the Southend Echo. “He’s not on trial with us but it was noticeable Michael didn’t play much last year.

“However, he’s assured me he’s in good condition and he certainly looks like he is. He’s a good, conscientious kid and I’m looking forward to working with him again.

“He’s a very relaxing kind of person and he does his job to the best of his ability. Hopefully we’ll see that in the next couple of years.”

Norwich signed Turner in the summer of 2012, from Sunderland for an undisclosed fee. He racked up 75 games and four goals, with spells on loan at Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday along the way, but only made two substitute appearances in the League Cup last season.