Southend have confirmed over the past few days that five players have left the club.
Mickey Spillane, John Spicer, Alex Woodyard and Elliot Benyon have all left following the expiration of their contracts and they are now free to discuss terms with other clubs.
Bilel Mohsni has also left after his contract was terminated earlier this month by mutual consent.
Brown admits it’s not easy to release players, but says it’s a part of the game that has to be done in order to improve and for him to stamp his DNA on the club next season.
He said: “I don’t think it’s too difficult, it’s one of the necessary evils of the game. The chairman brought me in to do a job with eight games to go. My assessment was based on those games, what had been achieved this season and where we finished in the league."