Town boss Mick McCarthy was spotted at Roots Hall watching Southend United draw 1-1 with Crewe Alexandra in League One this evening.

George Cooper put the visitors in front with four minutes of scheduled time remaining but Jack Payne equalised from the spot four minutes into injury time.

Earlier in the week, the Blues, Preston North End and Colchester United were claimed to be keeping an eye on Shrimpers’ winger Brandon Scott, however, the 19-year-old wasn’t involved in this evening’s game and is still to make his senior debut.

McCarthy will know the Southend squad well with the sides having met in two behind closed doors friendlies at Playford Road this season with the Essex club fielding strong teams on both occasions.

Shrimpers goalscorer Payne, 21, could be out of contract in the summer having so far failed to agree terms and having been tipped for a move to a higher division.

In the Crewe side, 24-year-old striker Brad Inman has reportedly been watched by Nottingham Forest, Bolton, the MK Dons, Bristol City and several League One sides having scored nine times this season.

The Australian-born former Scotland U21 international, who was with Newcastle as a youngster, is out of contract this summer.

Elsewhere, on-loan Town winger Cameron Stewart came on as a 71st minute sub as Doncaster lost 2-0 at Swindon, also in League One. Former Town loanee Richard Chaplow was sent off in the 78th minute after picking up a second yellow card.

In League Two, central defender Josh Yorwerth was an unused sub as Crawley beat Newport County 2-0, while fellow centre-half Matt Clarke was similarly left on the bench as Portsmouth drew 1-1 at Exeter.

In the Vanarama National League, keeper Michael Crowe was also an unused sub as Braintree beat Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 at Cressing Road.

Defender Joe Robinson was in the Woking’s startling line-up, however, as they defeated Molesey 3-1 in a Surrey Senior Cup quarter-final.

Photo: Action Images

eddie240393 added 23:21 - Mar 1 Possibly looking at Bentley? Out of our price range though I would imagine
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yungblue added 00:02 - Mar 2 Brad Inman - Play for Crewe Alexandra, he's had an unreal season for such a poor team, free at the end of the season, plays left wide midfield and as an attacking midfield.
2

Westy added 02:31 - Mar 2 Noel Hunt or Anthony Wordsworth !
6

adampasty added 04:58 - Mar 2 i was also at this game and would also like to see Ipswich look at Bentley. commanded his box, heard him all match, nothing he could do with the free kick. would be very happy but Southend rate him highly and dont believe he would be on the move for our tight budget
2

KingPablo added 06:20 - Mar 2 Dan Bentley or Jack Payne surely?
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floridaboy added 07:04 - Mar 2 Maybe looking at Phil Brown as his possible replacement
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billlm added 07:16 - Mar 2 Jumping of the end of the pier ?
3

iaintaylorx added 07:41 - Mar 2 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3471491/West-Ham-snap-highly-r I don't understand what we haven't seen in this lad, that West Ham have? West Ham have proven that the players who come through their youth are very top players. I'm not saying he WILL be a sensation, but West Ham know a player when they see one. Someone needs their job looked at, whoever let this kid go!

4

VulpineBlue added 07:54 - Mar 2 iaintaylorx. Didn't West Ham let Freddie Sears go?
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floridaboy added 07:54 - Mar 2 No knows what goes on at a club, maybe the boy had an attitude problem, thought he was better than he was. The only people who know are the staff at the club Maybe he was tapped up, money talks nowadays Move on!
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essex57 added 08:03 - Mar 2 Agree Floridaboy lots of posts on here are based on headline news and no fundamental information.
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GiveusaWave added 08:21 - Mar 2 Lets be honest. We have no idea who MM was looking at. Maybe it was Bentley. And maybe it was the Southend Mascot. We have no clue.
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Jesney_Havoc added 08:39 - Mar 2 Job interview ?
2

paulcooperisgod added 09:39 - Mar 2 What it's like to play in front of a small crowd? NO AMBITION
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JimmyJazz added 10:06 - Mar 2 Heard that Sears didn't have the best attitude in his early career while at West Ham. Seems that he's grown up quite a bit since then though
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rhybeaniho added 10:07 - Mar 2 I reckon it could well be to have a look at Brandon Scott - http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/ipswich-town-among-championship-clubs-plotting-
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PhilTWTD added 10:45 - Mar 2 yungblue Inman sounds a decent shout, not a name that crossed my radar. I've added a bit about him to the story. Given that he's out of contract in the summer there's an "I'm free!" joke in there somewhere.
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parhamblue added 11:02 - Mar 2 You've all done very well!
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essexboy added 11:53 - Mar 2 If you cannot believe 'headline news' then what can you believe.!!!
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iaintaylorx added 12:31 - Mar 2 That's a good point Vulpine! No disrespect to Freddie as I do think he is one of our best players, but I don't think he would be West Ham quality, in terms of who has come through their ranks, such as, Lamps, Rio, Defoe, Carrick. Albeit, I love Freddie and we need to keep him. We will only see the best of him, if he is played up top. Defenders hate playing against pace, so please MM, put him up there!!

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rinkydinkpanther added 13:08 - Mar 2 Sounds like McCarthy's getting in a sneaky look at some quality football during his spare time before he has to return to the soul-destroying drudgery of watching his own team play (which, ironically, he's the architect of).
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Seasider added 14:35 - Mar 2 Looks like he still has to shop at Poundland then. Each day I trawl websites and EADT in the hope that our Manager will sign a good player before the window closes for last time.I know it is sometime this month;but not sure when? I wonder if my hopes will be fulfilled?
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Bergholtblue added 16:21 - Mar 2 Inman? We couldn't even afford Mrs Slocombe's pussy.
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cats_whiskers added 16:22 - Mar 2 A cheap night out and it's on the way home too He can nibble on a pie and a swig a half shandy cheaper than at Portman Road It allows his wife to watch her favourite soap programmes and Jeremy Kyle recordings
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jas0999 added 17:04 - Mar 2 I doubt he was looking at anyone who would cost a fee. Cheapest options I suspect.
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