Southend United face wind up petition
The clubs creditors are due in court on May 17th
Last updated 4th May 2023
Southend united have been handed a winding up petition by HMRC.
It follows reports that club staff have not paid paid for their wok in March and April. And no players can be given new contracts due to an embargo on the club, for not paying HMRC in a timely manner.
It's the second time this year the club have been in this situation.
On February 4th, prior to their match against York City in the National League - protesters gathered in the High Street before marching to the club’s Roots Hall ground. The fans publicly blamed chairman Ron Martin for not investing in the club, for repeated relegations breaches & fears at the time that a previous HMRC winding-up petition may go unpaid & risk the club’s survival.
However, last time around the club avoided a day in court. On the 28th February they posted this to the clubs website:
"Ahead of the HMRC hearing on March 1, the Club can confirm the monies owed to HMRC, under the Petition, have been paid in full.
Funds as working capital have also been injected to help Southend United over the coming months.
The Club’s objective is to regain its future as a club within the Football League at the earliest opportunity".
The shrimpers ended the season outside the play off spots in the National League, by one place and two points.
The clubs creditors are now due to appear in court on May 17th.
The HMRC say: “We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and only file winding-up petitions once we’ve exhausted all other options, in order to protect taxpayers’ money."
The clubs Chairman for the last 25 years, Ron Martin, has had the club up for sale since March 17th.
Fans on social media have made their feelings known, with some demanding answers from the chairman. Others say they feel like this is the end of the club.
Greatest Hits Radio Essex has approached the club for comment. It has not yet been supplied.