KEVIN Maher has urged the powers that be at Southend United to move quickly if they are to build on the progress made this season.

The Shrimpers ended the campaign eighth in the National League table after beating Wealdstone 2-1 in their final clash at Roots Hall on Saturday.

But Maher wants to be given the tools he needs to ensure Blues keep getting better.

“We need to act quickly if we’re to take this on,” said Maher.

“I think we’re in a great position as a football department to take it forward and be up towards the top of the table next year.

“But it’s got to happen quickly because it’s a big period coming up.

“I know what we need to do but we need clarity on what’s happening so we can take the club forward.

“It’s a big four to six weeks and the time frame should be now.

“We need clarity if we’re to move forward and take the club where we believe it can be.

“What we can’t do is go back to where we were 18 months when we first walked in the building.”

The Shrimpers have been in a transfer embargo since September due to money owed to HMRC while staff have continued to be paid late throughout the season and are still waiting for their wages for both March and April.

Chairman Ron Martin insists the club is up for sale but when asked if he had received the clarity he needed, Maher replied: “Not at the minute.”

Despite the off field issues, Blues finished just one place and two points below the play-off places But Maher feels the Shrimpers could have ended up towards the foot of the table if so much good work had not gone on behind the scenes.

“We could’ve quite easily ended up like Scunthorpe, Torquay and Yeovil and that’s testament to the people who came into the building 18 months ago,” said Maher.

“It’s down to the work behind the scenes in terms of recruitment.

"We’ve come up short by two points and to do that is unbelievable.

"There was a time this season where I felt we could’ve made it but unfortunately that hasn’t happened."

And Maher hinted that was down to the restrictions in place at Roots Hall.

“All we needed was a little help at the right time which we didn’t get,” said the 46-year-old.

“You can look at the seven games we lost but that was after a period of games where we probably shouldn’t have won games.

“The players went so deep and so did the staff.

“To be in with a chance is testament to the people we have here."

>Subscribe to the Echo for just £6 for six months