Southend United have arranged a closed door friendly with West Ham Saturday and the centre-half that the club are looking to sign could well be playing, in that game and Tuesday in League Two against Swindon Town!

The former Addicks centre-back Jonathan Fortune is another defensive player that Blues boss Paul Sturrock could be interested in, following up reports yesterday that former loanee Pat Baldwin was in the frame. 

Franks is a free agent at the moment who has been training with the league leaders and could get a chance to shine in a behind closed doors friendly against West Ham United Saturday afternoon.

According to the Echo there is still another un-named defender who is attracting interest from the Shrimpers.

As for Tuesday opponents Swindon Town, they appear to be on the verge of signing midfielder Lee Cox after Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss Terry Butcher confirmed the Robins' interest.

Following on with the Baldwin rumour, it should be said that as of Thursday the Colchester manager told www.greenun24.co.uk, no relation: "I’ve had no enquiries about my players, either permanent or on loan at this moment.”
 
And www.eadt.co.uk added Friday: 'Baldwin looks set to feature for the U’s at Leyton Orient tomorrow, either from the start or on the bench, due to (another ex-Shrimper loanee) Matt Heath’s groin injury. Baldwin’s departure would only leave manager John Ward with two fit senior centre-halves in Magnus Okuonghae and Tom Eastman, plus the untried Tom Aldred. However, Baldwin’s contract is set to expire this summer, and the 29-year-old Londoner is keen to secure regular first team football.'
 
Luggy wants a centre-back: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
 
& is it a return for Baldwin?: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
 
Harris wants revenge: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
 
Who will win the biggest game of the season so far?: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk

The Robins faithful speak; 'awesome chip shop at Roots Hall': http://thetownend.com

Discuss the game on S24: http://boards.footymad.net

The Fortune Files

Personal information
Full name Jonathan Jay Fortune
Date of birth 23 August 1980 (1980-08-23) (age 31)
Place of birth Islington, London, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1998–2009 Charlton Athletic 166 (6)
2000 → Mansfield Town (loan) 4 (0)
2000 → Mansfield Town (loan) 14 (0)
2007 → Stoke City (loan) 4 (0)
2007 → Stoke City (loan) 10 (1)
2009–2010 Sheffield United 5 (1)
2010–2011 Charlton Athletic 7 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:13, 6 January 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

(Full player info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Fortune)

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