Brentford boss Dean Smith has poured cold water on speculation linking Alan McCormack with a move back to Southend.
McCormack has reportedly held talks with Shrimpers boss Phil Brown over returning to a club he served for three years between 2007-2010, following two loan spells at Roots Hall.
But Smith expects to see the 32 year old, who triggered an automatic contract extension at Griffin Park last season, to be fighting for a shirt at Brentford next season.
He said: “There's nothing in it, and I was winding Alan up about it earlier. He must have had a game of golf with Phil Brown or something, I know Phil well.
“Alan has trained really well, and I think he really enjoys it at the football club, but he's got to get the shirt because I've got Nico Yennaris and Ryan Woods, as well as Josh McEachran coming back next week - he should be able to play against Wycombe (next Tuesday).
“You saw the emergence of Lewis Macleod today ( at Boreham Wood on Friday night), who looks a really good footballer and has impressed in training, so we've got four fighting for two or three positions in the team.”
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One transfer which definitely has gone through is Jack O'Connell's move to Sheffield United, with the signing of John Egan having pushed him down to fifth choice centre back.
Smith added: “It's sad to see when players go, but we've got a number of quality centre backs at the club. Jack has never let me down when called upon, but he wants to keep on developing, and I couldn't guarantee him that with the quality we have.
“He expressed a desire and Sheffield United came in for him, it was a good deal for both parties. With with Andreas Bjelland coming back, the emergence of Yoann Barbet last year, plus Harlee Dean and John Egan, it was always going to be hard. He wants to keep progressing, he's that sort of lad.”
