Southend United's player-of-the-year Nathan Jones has left the club for Third Division rivals Brighton.

Jones was out of contract and free to leave Roots Hall under the Bosman ruling.

The left-back was offered a new deal by the club, but it seems the two-year contract he opted for at Brighton is more lucrative.

Jones spent three seasons with the Shrimpers with the last campaign being his best for the club.

Southend boss Alan Little admitted the club were out-bid on the wages front: "It seems that Brighton have offered Nathan a good deal - better than we could offer.

"I'm disappointed because I know he enjoyed his time here," he told BBC Essex.

Meanwhile, Little has held talks with Leo Roget about the defender's future. Roget is the only out-of-contract Blues player not to have agreed a new deal so far.