Southend United manager Steve Tilson was today stepping up his attempts to bring experienced central defender Spencer Prior back to Roots Hall.

Prior missed Blues' 2-0 defeat at home to Millwall last night but held further transfer talks with Tilson after the final whistle.

And the Seasiders chief admitted he was still keen to link up with his former team mate once again.

"Spencer has come in and played a couple of games but he's not insured so he didn't play against Millwall," said the 37-year-old.

"I've spoken to him again and now we will have to see what's what. He's done well here for us, he's an experienced lad and it would be a good signing but who knows what will happen."

Without Prior, the coastal club crashed to their first defeat of pre-season as goals from Paul Ifill and Jody Morris handed last season's FA Cup finalists a comfortable triumph.

The defeat against the Championship promotion hopefuls was no blow for Tilson, though.

"It was a really good test for us and it was ideal for what we wanted at this stage of the season," he said.

"Millwall kept the ball well and made us work for 90 minutes and that's what we wanted."

Published Thursday July 22, 2004

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