Southend boss doesn't rule out making a move for Holmes

Southend United manager Mark Molesley has not ruled out making a move for out-of-contract winger Ricky Holmes.

The 33-year-old is currently weighing up his options after the short-term deal he penned with the Cobblers in November expired last weekend.

Keith Curle has not completely dismissed the idea of giving Holmes a new contract later this month but, limited to just 22 players over the age of 21, he says he has other priorities now the January transfer window is open.

Holmes has given his agent a list of clubs that he would be willing to sign for, one of which is Southend, his boyhood club. The Shrimpers are currently bottom of League Two.

"Ricky Holmes is a very good player and he’s very well known to Southend too," Molesley told the Southend Echo. "We’ve got some targets we’d like to pursue them and look at.

"A lot goes into bringing a player to a football club and we don’t take it lightly. We try and do a lot of research and we also have to balance the books and squad.

"There are loads of things that go into it but we are being supported very well in trying to add to this football club. There are a whole host of names out there but why are they available?

"You have to consider a lot of things and what we need in our squad is very specific and we need to make sure we add the right ones."