SOUTHEND United fans preview the forthcoming National League season.

To say it has been a difficult summer for Southend United would be a huge understatement.

While other teams announced new kits and signings, Blues fans were refreshing social media to check if their club would even start the season.

The fact the club will compete is down to the hard work of loyal staff and fans, under extremely difficult circumstances.

Somehow putting the off-field issues aside, the National League has gone up a gear.

Some Hollywood magic has opened the eyes of the footballing world to non-league over the last few seasons.

With Wrexham and Notts County now out of the picture, this has levelled the playing field and revitalised club ambitions.

Several teams have already put together impressive squads; Chesterfield, Oldham, Barnet and York to name a few.

A long-standing embargo means Maher has not been able to add to his squad.

However, he has managed to retain most of his existing one.

A minor miracle.

There is no doubt that Blues fans will be right behind their loyal players.

They will also have a keen eye on Jack Wood, an exciting prospect who has a big season ahead.

With a 16-man squad restriction and the looming threat of a 10-point deduction, it’s hard to have an expectation beyond avoiding relegation.

Despite the talent that remains, there is only so much that can be done given the wider context.

The bond between staff, players and fans has never been greater; a Southend truly United.

Maybe, just maybe, that can spark some deserved magic and hope for the club in the months ahead.

LEWIS HOBDAY

Having just obtained access to a “famous streaming service” I’m working my way through “Welcome to Wrexham”.

Rather than being jealous of their Hollywood owners and Hollywood money it gives as a peak at what we could be if a certain chairman did the right thing and finally sells up to release his death grip on our ailing club. 

If released from Martin’s mismanagement and his obsession with “Project Fossets” we could get Roots Hall fixed up and improved so it’s a safe and proper football stadium to be proud of once again, be able to re engage with the lost supporters and businesses in and around the City and be able to give Kev and the Amigos the tools to improve on last season’s flirtation with the play offs and become a proper football club again. 

Instead we are a zombie outfit, barely surviving from court date to court date getting weaker and less competitive by the week, the loss of Henry Sandat being the latest kick in the crotch. 

Unless we get new ownership rapidly then sadly this season is set to be one of massive struggle, the restrictions on playing resources giving us a 16 man squad simply isn’t going to allow us to be competitive plus with the potential points deductions hanging over us if we manage to avoid relegation that will be a huge achievement. 

My fear is it’s going to have get even worse for us before it gets better, that is if it is allowed to get better. 

CHRIS BENT

Being asked to write a preview for the coming season is like being asked to predict this weekend's lottery numbers.

With things up in the air like they are, there are any number of ways that the season could play out.

Working under incredibly tough circumstances, Kev and the team worked miracles to achieve what they did.

This season should have been all about building on that and making a proper push for promotion, at the time of writing though, I think most Blues fans would be content with the club just being in existence still, come May next year. 

Unless considerable investment or, preferably new ownership of the club, the outlook for the coming season is bleak at best.

Under the National League's stipulations a 10 point deduction looks unavoidable at some point throughout the season, should Ron remain at the helm.

With a squad of only 16 allowed under current circumstances, Kev and the team will have to work miracles, for the coming season to be anything but a relegation battle.

At the beginning of any new season, as fans we want to be full of excitement and hope but they are two commodities in very short supply around SS2 over the past couple of years and especially the last six months.

Putting doom and gloom to one side for a moment, the coming season could of course be very different should new owners be found and put in place at the earliest opportunity.

With all sanctions lifted and no transfer windows to deal with, the squad could be strengthened at any point and who knows then what could be achieved.

Right now a period of stability, something the majority of football fans take for granted, is the greatest gift we could receive.

GEOFF GREEN

It’s the hope that kills you

Given the remit of previewing the Blues' season in no more than 300 words is interesting as feel I could perhaps write a novel or alternatively sum it up in two words.

With the possible exception of 2010 when Paul Sturrock took over as manager with just a handful of players never in the club's 117 year history have we been so badly prepared for the season ahead.

Players didn't train at some stages due to waiting for wages, we've had just three pre-season friendlies and we have also lost a number of players over the summer.

It leaves us with a paper thin squad and no back up goalkeeper which I feel is totally unacceptable for a professional football club.

I am usually optimistic at the start of the season but under the current circumstances I would be pleased to finish this season and ideally not get relegated.

I never thought I would have such low expectations but feel they realistic.

We have however at the time of writing retained some good players for this league so if able to get new owners and out of the long running transfer embargo with the window open until March we could do better although I would doubt any of the original targets would be possible.

RICHARD TANNER