'Southend United facing biggest few days in their history'

New signings, new kits, new contracts are all par for the course by now - along with the hope this could finally be your side’s season, however unrealistic that may appear to be.

But Southend United is the complete polar opposite at this stage.

And instead of optimism and excitement being around every corner there is fear.

It’s genuine fear too because right now no-one really knows if the Shrimpers can survive the next few days and the long list of issues could fill the pages of this paper alone.

Some staff have gone four months without being paid, the club have been in a transfer embargo since September and are also unable to offer any existing players contracts unless the squad size drops below 16.

The players did not train together at all last week as they waited for their wages while they are still without medical cover due to that department having not being paid.

Tuesday’s pre-season friendly at Canvey Island had to be rescheduled while sponsors are pulling out due to their own concerns.

But the biggest worry of all comes on Wednesday when the club are back in court.

This is serious stuff as Blues battle with HMRC, once more, over yet another winding up petition which again puts the future of the club in jeopardy.

Adding to that, the National League are closely monitoring the situation and have also issued their own set of financial demands which must be met if the Shrimpers are to remain in the fifth tier of English football next season.

Kimura remain in talks to buy the club but the stadium side of the deal has yet to be decided and time is rapidly running out.

However, it is quite simply disgusting that the football club has been allowed to reach such depths of despair.

Blues have been a club in chaos for far too long and limped from one crisis to the next, applying short-term solutions to long-term issues.

Such a scenario was never going to end well and here we are.

I’ll never hide my love for my local football club and I honestly feel sick to the very pit of my stomach about what may happen this week.

I know I won’t be alone in that either.

This is a club which means so much to so many people and has been a huge part of our community for more than a century.

The backing Blues receive from the supporters remains mind-blowingly good and the club has so many brilliant people working there right now who all deserve so much more.

But the problems lie right at the top and Ron Martin must act now.

Please, please, please put the needs of the club before your own Ron and do what is right for the many thousands of people who care so much for the Shrimpers.

Do not become the man known only to have killed the club and do what is necessary to ensure future generations can keep on backing Blues.

Last season Kevin Maher, his staff and squad performed miracles to paper over the cracks and made supporting Southend fun again at times.

But their hard work is slowly being unravelled and the off-field issues have become depressingly draining and difficult.

I’m actually putting this together while looking out across Boots & Laces and it really does sum up the situation in many ways.

Towards the bottom of the pitches, the youth team are being put through their paces by unpaid staff not even knowing if the academy will continue next season.

Further forward, the first team pitches remain empty and derelict without a single player in sight.

Like most of the club, the pitches have clearly not been looked after and are not fit for purpose in many ways.

The brown coloured surface looks to be dying and desperately requires attention to be brought back to life.

That’s Southend United in a nutshell right now.

The next three days are, for me, the biggest in Blues’ history.

And those with the power to act must do so with the football club at the forefront of their mind, not their own financial situation.