SOUTHEND United are facing a winding-up petition from HM Revenue & Customs.

The hearing over an alleged unpaid tax bill will be held on Wednesday 9 November at 10.30am at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Blues have already been placed under a transfer embargo after missing a payment to HMRC.

But, in a club statement issued at the start of the month, chairman Ron Martin assured supporters the situation would be sorted.

Speaking at the start of the month, before the HMRC petition, he said: "The latest problem has arisen due to a delay in the programme.

"As result of this issue, we missed a payment under our Time To Pay Agreement with HMRC.

"This is the agreement we entered into (like many other clubs) following the pandemic, instead of taking a loan from the Premier League.

"Up to August, the club, with the support of the group met the debt payments under the agreement.

"HMRC have now cancelled the Time to Pay Agreement, which, given the current economic climate I believe to be premature, particularly given the agreement was due to finish in December 2022.

"Bridging finance has been agreed, but has not yet been completed.

"Once it has (weeks not months) we will discharge the HMRC debt in full."

Blues sit 12th in the National League and head to Woking in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup this weekend.

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