Ex-Hatter McCormack heads to Southend as Read and Edwards also earn moves

Former Luton midfielder Alan McCormack has returned to League Two Southend United on a short-term deal until January.

The 36-year-old played over 150 games while at Roots Hall before leaving in 2010, when he headed to Charlton Athletic, Swindon Town, Brentford and then Luton in the summer of 2017.

Although injuries restricted him to just 39 appearances in two years, he was an integral part of the Hatters' winning back-to-back promotions.

McCormack was released in 2019, spending last term at Northampton, helping the Cobblers win the League Two play-offs.

He left the PTS Academy Stadium at the end of the campaign though and has now gone back to help the Shrimpers who were given more time this week to clear tax debts after a winding-up petition against the club was adjourned for a fourth time.

After rejoining, McCormack told the club's official website: "It doesn’t feel like I’ve been away.

"When I had a phone call with the manager I was getting more and more excited to come back and I’m delighted it’s done.

"I loved my time at this club beforehand.

"I moved away to try and do something different and new in my life but I’m just thankful that I’m able to come back and, hopefully, make a difference here.

"At my age and the youthfulness of the squad I felt like I could be a real asset.

"I’m a winner by nature, I hate losing even if it’s against my six-year-old boy in the back garden playing two touch.

"Pool, table-tennis, darts, you name it I hate losing, and that’s the nature I’ve always had about me.

"Come Saturday at 3 o’clock I’ll tend to raise up an extra 10-20 per cent and that will be the same this year."

Meanwhile, former Luton youngster Arthur Read made his Football League debut for Stevenage at the weekend.

The 20-year-old left Kenilworth Road for Brentford B in July 2019 after playing seven times for the Hatters, going on to score five goals in 30 appearances for the Bees last term.

He joined League Two Boro on a season-long loan deal and came on after 59 minutes of the club's 1-1 draw at Barrow on Saturday.

Brentford B head doach Neil MacFarlane said of Read: “He’s a fantastic footballer, who handles the ball brilliantly, I’m confident that he will go and do well and I have a real trust in Arthur in that respect.

“He’s 20, he’s a good age, so we feel that the time is right for him to go and experience League football.

"He’s been with the B team now for a year and he now has the opportunity to play League football, to express himself, and impress in a different environment."

Finally, former Luton winger Carlos Edwards has signed full time for Isthmian League North Division side Bury Town.

The 41-year-old, who played 74 times for Luton, scoring eight goals, before joining Sunderland for £1.5m in January 2007, turned out for the Blues last season despite being joint player-manager at Woodbridge Town.

However, the former Trinidad & Tobago international stood down from his position at Notcutts Park and has now signed permanently for Bury.

Boss Ben Chenery, himself an ex-Hatter, said: "His experience will be invaluable for our young side, and he is still a terrific player.

“The rest of the squad will learn a lot from him and he is a great person to have around the club.”