SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown hopes to celebrate his side’s dramatic 1-0 win at Exeter City on Saturday by signing a new three year deal to remain at Roots Hall this week.

Michael Timlin’s injury time winner moved the Shrimpers to within three points of third placed Wycombe Wanderers with a game in hand.

And, on the back of a fifth straight win, Brown now expects to put pen to paper on an extended contract, despite rumoured interest from Portsmouth.

“I have a meeting with the chief executive and the chairman this morning and the contract is close to being done now,” said Brown, speaking exclusively to Echosport.

“There are a couple of technicalities we need to go over and sort but it’s nothing major and I would expect the deal to be signed before I run the Marathon next weekend which is probably just as well because I might not have the energy to do it after!

Brown has been with fifth placed Blues since March 2013 and believes Saturday’s narrow 1-0 win at St.James Park kept their alive their chances of a top three finish.

But the 55-year-old also felt it was the Shrimpers’ determination which enabled them to come out on top.

“Exeter played more football than us but I think we had more determination and that won us the game,” said Brown.

“It was probably the most I’ve had to get into the side in my two and half years here but I also thought the subs made a massive difference when they came on.

“It was a more of a battle than a game of football but we were still able to get the three points and that’s massively important because it means we’re still in with a fighting chance of making the top three.”

Timlin’s late winner maintained that momentum as he fired home a neatly controlled pass from Jack Payne.

And Brown was full of praise for the influential midfielder who he wants to sign a new deal to also stay with the Shrimpers.

“It was a fantastic day for Michael and he deserves it more than anyone,” said the Shrimpers chief.

“He just gets on with things but as far as I’m concerned we will be offering him a contract because he’s very important to us.”

Brown now wants Timlin and the rest of the team to shine in tomorrow night’s crunch clash at fourth placed Bury in a rearranged game he feels will have a huge say on the remainder of the season.

“We’re both on the shirt-tails of Wycombe so it’s a six pointer in every sense of the word,” said Brown.

“But we’ve won the last five and we’ve had six clean sheets on the bounce so I’m absolutely delighted with our form going into it.”