SOUTHEND United have rejected an offer from Queens Park Rangers for their highly rated goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

The bid was believed to be lower than the £1million Hull City offered for the 22-year-old shot-stopper last week.

And Blues boss Phil Brown confirmed the club had decided not to accept QPR’s bid.

“We’ve been aware of QPR’s interest for a while and they have now made a bid which we’ve turned down,” said Brown.

“We don’t want Daniel to leave and that’s all there is to say on the matter at the moment.”

Bentley returned to action for the Shrimpers against Leyton Orient on Sunday having missed the two previous friendlies due to illness and a family bereavement.

The Wickford based shot-stopper is now firmly established as one of the brightest prospects in the lower leagues and was voted Blues’ player of the year last season.

Bentley, who has 12 months left to run on his contract, was also voted into the PFA League Two team of the year and was the Shrimpers’ hero in their play-off final success against Wycombe Wanderers in May denying both Matt Bloomfield and Sam Wood in the penalty shoot-out.

Bentley came through the youth system at Roots Hall and has made 112 appearances for the first team.