Southend boss Phil Brown has no problem with Hull City

Southend United boss Phil Brown has said he will carry no resentment when he faces his former club Hull City in the FA Cup fourth round.

Brown took Hull to the top flight for the first time in their history in 2008 but was sacked in the summer of 2010.

"When it comes down to the 90 minutes there will be axes to grind, don't get me wrong," Brown told BBC Essex.

"But I should be OK. I don't think there are any problems as far as the Hull fans are concerned."

Southend's FA Cup fourth-round tie against the Tigers on 25 January at Roots Hall will be Brown's first meeting with his former club since his departure.

Brown was in charge for three-and-a-half years at the KC Stadium and took Hull, now managed by Steve Bruce, to the top flight with a 1-0 play-off final victory over Bristol City.

He kept them up in their first season in the Premier League but was placed on gardening leave in March 2010 with the club in the relegation zone, and was sacked in the summer when compensation was agreed.

"When I was put on gardening leave I didn't go back to Hull City for nearly two years," he said.

"I went back for a fans' presentation where they wanted to honour me which was nice. So I don't have any axes to grind with any of the fans.

"I don't have any problems with Steve Bruce or the owners, because it was a different owner at the time."

League Two Southend progressed to the next round of the Cup with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Championship side Millwall.

However Brown, a qualified electrician, was nervous when a floodlight failure temporarily halted the game with his side 1-0 up.

"I'm an electrician by trade. It was the old halogen lamps and they have to cool right down before they can fire up again.

"The last time I picked the tools up was 30 years ago. But I did go have a little look."