SOUTHEND UNITED HAVE announced the signing of Republic of Ireland international Simon Cox.

The 29-year-old has agreed a two-year deal which will keep him at the League One club until the end of the 2017/18 season.

Cox has played 30 times for the Boys in Green, and was part of Martin O’Neill’s provisional Ireland squad for the March friendlies with Switzerland and Slovakia.

He played just 13 Championship games for Reading last season, but Shrimpers boss Phil Brown is looking forward to giving Cox a fresh start at Southend.

“It’s a fantastic signing, I can’t thank the chairman [Ron Martin] enough for this deal,” Brown told the club’s official website.

“I’m very hopeful that someone of Simon’s pedigree will replace Jack Payne’s goals

I’ve been working hard and long to pull this signing off, and I can’t thank the chairman enough for pushing this through.

“It’s a real coup for the club.”

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