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Southend boss Kevin Maher says he needs clarity about the club's future before he can implement plans to improve the playing squad this summer.

The Shrimpers missed out on a place in the National League play-offs despite beating Wealdstone in their last game.

The club is up for sale after a winding-up petition was dismissed in March but non-playing staff have not been paid for the last two months.

"We need to act quickly if we're going to take this on," Maher told BBC Essex.

"We're in a great position as a football department to take it forward and be up at the top end of the table next season.

"That's got to happen quickly, it's a big period coming up now. I know what I need to do, and what we need to do as a staff, but we need clarity on what's happening."

Asked if he was anywhere near getting that clarity, Maher replied: "No."

He was appointed manager in October 2021, having made 386 league appearances for the club between 1998 and 2008.

After finishing 13th last season, Southend were well-placed to secure a play-off spot following an 11-match unbeaten run from mid-September to November.

But they lost all seven games in March and were unable to make up the lost ground, ending up eighth in the table, two points below Bromley.

Maher said he was delighted with the way the team had played for the shirt "despite a lot of stuff they've had to deal with".

And he also paid tribute to supporters after 8,434 turned up at Roots Hall for the Wealdstone game.

"We could have quite easily ended up like [relegated] Scunthorpe and Yeovil and Torquay [given what's happened off the pitch], and that's testament to the people who came in the building 18 months ago and the work that's gone on behind the scenes in terms of recruitment," Maher continued.

"To get eight and a half thousand in Roots Hall, that's what I've had here in the Championship and to do that in National League is unbelievable."

He added: "I work with the players on a day in, day out basis and I know what they're capable of. We need a little help at the right time, which we didn't get, and that's probably why we've come up short."

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Southend United have again been served a winding-up petition by HM Revenue & Customs.

The financially-troubled National League club had settled a £1.4m debt owed to the tax department two months before the latest petition was filed.

The club is now due to appear in the High Court on 17 May.

Southend, whose season ended with backroom staff going unpaid for the past two months, were put up for sale on 17 March.

Southend United said they would not comment when contacted by BBC Sport about the latest winding-up petition.

They have been summoned to court for similar financial reasons numerous times over the past 15 years, with the latest petition dismissed on 1 March.

Earlier in the week Southend head coach Kevin Maher said he needed clarity about the club's future before he could look to improve his squad.

The Shrimpers finished one place and two points outside the National League play-off spots.

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The High Court has adjourned a winding-up petition against Southend United by HM Revenue & Customs until 12 July.

The 56-day delay gives owner Ron Martin, who attended the court hearing on Wednesday, more time to sell the troubled National League club.

Chairman Martin, who has faced much criticism from fans, put Southend up for sale in March.

The club has been plagued by financial problems over the past 15 years.

There have been a number of previous winding-up petitions issued - one was dismissed on 1 March after a £1.4m payment to HMRC was made.

The Shrimpers finished the season one place and two points outside the National League play-off places.

Head coach Kevin Maher recently told BBC Essex he needed clarity about the club's future before he could look to improve his squad.

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Some "back of house" staff at National League side Southend are still waiting for unpaid wages despite a judge unfreezing the club's bank account.

A judicial order was secured last week to enable players and coaches to receive their May salaries.

And a court heard on Monday that a potential buyer had shown "genuine interest" in the club.

Other staff are, however, still awaiting "March and/or April" wages despite last week's order.

"This is obviously an incredibly unsatisfactory position," a Shrimpers' statement said.

"We are very sorry about the delay in making payments. Our staff have been patient and loyal, all those affected will be rewarded."

The club say that unfreezing the account will "enable the business to continue to function pending the takeover".

The next winding-up hearing over an unpaid tax bill of £275,000 is scheduled for 12 July.

But the club's barrister told an Insolvency and Companies Court hearing on Monday: "There is a possibility that the petition may simply be dismissed."

The Southend statement added: "In advance of that date, the club must pay the petition debt (due to HMRC) and the debt of those supporting the petition, we also need to bring staff salaries up to date.

"In relation to that, the club continue to explore financing options (as it did back in March when a substantial debt to HMRC was paid). In addition, the club remain in conversation with interested parties who would like to purchase the club."

Chairman Ron Martin put Southend up for sale in March, saying that felt "the time was right".

And last month, the club - who, the court heard, are "trading insolvently" - confirmed that talks were taking place with "three interested parties".

That number may, though, be now down to one as the judge said: "There is genuine interest from a party who appears to have the funds. It is significant and encouraging."

The Shrimpers lost their place in the English Football League two years ago and finished eighth in National League in 2022-23, one place and two points outside the play-off places.

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Southend United have been given more time to secure their future after their latest winding-up petition over unpaid taxes was adjourned for a second time.

The financially troubled National League club were in the High Court over a £275,000 tax bill, with the case previously adjourned in May.

Chairman Ron Martin's request for a further 42-day extension to finalise a sale was granted by Judge Sally Barber.

The Shrimpers are now due back in court on 23 August.

Martin has been trying to find a buyer for the club since putting it up for sale in March.

He told the court the extra six weeks needed to save the club was for the new owners to satisfy the Football Association's directors test.

Owner 'playing chicken' with club and supporters
Martin, who has owned the club since 2008, said non-disclosure agreements and heads of terms had been signed with "three interested parties" over a potential sale on 26 May.

However, no further updates have been given, with the clock now ticking on any deal being finalised.

Against the backdrop of the turmoil over the club's future, supporters groups began "exploratory work" in February over establishing a phoenix club - should Southend go bust.

Following the court's decision to grant more time to rubber-stamp a potential takeover, Rob Craven from the Shrimpers Trust told BBC Essex the situation remains "really frustrating".

"Ron Martin's been hiding behind non-disclosure agreements and it's been a clandestine process to sell the club or seek investment.

"The supporters are the last to hear anything and today's decision is unsatisfactory.

"It feels like Ron Martin's playing chicken with our football club. He needs to sort this out."

With the club still unable to sign new players because of the debt owed to HM Revenue & Customs, Craven says the club's place National League for this season - which is set to start with a home game against Oldham on Saturday, 5 August, may still be in jeopardy.

"The 42-day adjournment is largely irrelevant because we haven't got that long.

"We were fortunate to have a meeting with the National League on Monday and the sense we got was they were trying to accommodate the club as much as possible, but this matter needs to be sorted for the integrity of their competition.

"If we're in a situation where creditors and staff haven't been paid the indication we got is that the club won't be permitted to play in the National League this season."

The BBC has approached the National League for comment.

Martin needs to 'do the decent thing' - Jobson
Southend have been the subject of numerous winding-up petitions in recent years - with four issued in 2019 alone.

A previous petition was settled in March after the club paid a £1.4m tax bill but financial issues persisted, with players and staff being paid late despite a court order unfreezing the club's accounts.

The Blues, who were founded in 1906, are scheduled to start their campaign 18 days before their new deadline to find a buyer.

Speaking before Wednesday's hearing, Robert Jobson, son of the club's former owner Vic Jobson, called on Martin to "do the decent thing" and sell the club as soon as possible.

"The football club is more important than the chairman. Let's make sure the club survives," he told BBC Essex.

"If we had a proper leader, with some people with some deep pockets, we'd be able to get new players and probably double the people we get on the terraces, and probably get back into the Football League.

"It's the people's club and he should look to do the decent thing and do a deal with whoever looking to buy it."

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Troubled football club Southend United has paid the wages of staff for the first time in three months.

It confirmed to BBC Essex that it had paid money owed to office workers.

The National League club has debts of £2.5m, about £300,000 of which is owed to football creditors. The club has been given until 23 August to pay a £275,000 tax bill.

Fan group The Shrimpers Trust said the club remained under "existential threat" until owner Ron Martin sold it.

In a statement, the trust said: "Our initial thoughts are with those staff. They are the heartbeat of our football club and we will be forever grateful for their loyalty and dedication through what has been an immeasurably tough time.

"While Ron Martin is in charge, Southend United will remain under an existential threat, with the owner doing the bare minimum to support its functionality."

Earlier this month, fans of the 117-year-old club protested outside Mr Martin's home and the trust announced plans for a further "responsible and lawful" protest on 29 July.

Southend United protest
IMAGE SOURCE,EMMA BAUGH/BBC
Image caption,
A large group of Southend United fans protested outside the city home of Ron Martin earlier this month
Southend United - which dropped out of the dropped out of the Football League at the end of the 2020-21 season - has been before the courts a number of times in recent months, with an order being made in May to ensure the club's survival by allowing the payment of players and accountants.

In a hearing last week, Mr Martin - Southend's owner for 25 years - gave an undertaking to Judge Mark Mullen that he would notify the remaining creditors - which also included the energy supplier Npower - of the payment in order to secure the court's approval.

He told the court the club was ready to pay £250,000 to its football creditors and that a further £52,000 had been obtained from the Premier League for academy players.

The judge approved the payments, which will allow the club to keep its licence and remain in the National League.

Southend opening league fixture is at home to Oldham on Saturday, 5 August.

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Southend United have been granted a final 42-day adjournment of their winding-up petition by the High Court to complete the sale of the club.

Owner Ron Martin told the court a sale to an unnamed Australian buyer should be finalised by the end of September.

The club were given a 42-day adjournment on their previous appearance in court on 12 July to clear debts and find a new owner.

The takeover must now be finalised by their return to court on 4 October.

The judge warned Martin the club, founded in 1906, would be wound up if that deadline was missed.

"If this was not a football club, with the attachment of its fans, I would be winding it up today," Judge Prentis said.

The Shrimpers, who have debts of £2.5m, owe £275,000 to HMRC in unpaid taxes and were warned by the National League that failure to clear that tax liability by Wednesday would result in a 10-point penalty.

They were also told their licence to play would depend on paying any new debts "on time to the satisfaction of the league" during the season.

After settling football-related debts of £300,000 last month to confirm their league place, the Shrimpers have begun their campaign with two wins and two defeats and are ninth in the table on six points.

But a 10-point penalty would leave them bottom on minus four points, five points adrift of current bottom club Dagenham & Redbridge.

Concern over Shrimpers' future lingers
Southend have managed their solid start despite being under a transfer embargo that was put in place last September because of their financial problems.

It has meant boss Kevin Maher has been unable to add to his squad for nearly a year and has only had 15 players to pick from on matchdays.

Maher said it was "pretty obvious to anyone watching what's needed" after their weekend defeat by Hartlepool, adding the players and staff had been "incredible" but "need help".

Wednesday's ruling prolongs the uncertainty over the 117-year-old club's future with Martin having started negotiations with several interested parties, including asset management company Kimura Capital, after putting Southend up for sale in March.

Kimura told BBC Essex last month that they believed the club was a "very attractive asset" and were willing to "join with other interested parties" but were "not the right people to lead this".

Those talks appear to have come to nothing, but Martin is now "confident" the interest from Australia will prove concrete and secure the Shrimpers' future.