Southend Council gives update on deal to save Southend United
The Council said it is "trying to help as much as it can"
Southend-on-Sea Council have issued an update to fans on the future of Southend United.
Fans of the Shrimpers have been patiently waiting for a report on the housing project that had been planned for the club's training ground at Fossetts Farm.
Previously, the consortium had said that it would take over the club and its assets, swapping over from Blues' chairman Ron Martin in December, in order to secure the future of the club, but had now been stalled due to the report.
In a statement to fans, Cllr Daniel Cowan, who leads the Council in its business sympathised with fans, saying that the frustration was "understandable".
Cllr Cowan said: "I fully understand that people want regular, open, and honest dialogue about this vital issue, and we have promised to give this. This update is part of that promise.
"The first thing to say is that the council is committed and supportive of the football club. It has been for many years," he added.
However, he also explained that the Council needed to look at what was best for the city, and that "due diligence" needed to be given to the housing report, which would then inform the Council's upcoming actions.
He outlined the issues: "This is a half a billion-pound project with huge opportunities and risks for the council and therefore the taxpayers of the city. It is not something we can just jump into lightly or without very detailed consideration."
As part of the Council's push for due diligence, Cllr Cowan said that financial, legal, market and audit elements - all of which he said required intense scrutiny.
He ended his statement by ensuring to fans that the Council wants to keep Fossetts Farm going, but needed to balance the cost with the future projects the Council wants to push for.
Cllr Cowan also said that the matter was raised at the Council's most recent meeting, and that it will do what it can to push through the paperwork so that issues could be sorted as soon as possible.
Whilst the wait continues, the Shrimpers have been placed in a transfer embargo for 15 months due to debts the club had racked up to HMRC.
The club was also deducted 10 points as a result of the lack of payments, whilst staff at the club were forced to go three months without being paid.