High Court to decide on future of Southend United
The club owes around £1.4m in unpaid tax to HMRC
It's being described by fans as Southend United away at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), as they wait to find out whether the club is to go under.
The Shrimpers currently owe around £1.4m in unpaid tax to HMRC.
A winding-up hearing at the High Court this morning (Wednesday 1 March) will hear whether Chairman Ron Martin has found the cash to save the club.
Is this the first time something like this has happened?
No. The club has been subject to a number of winding-up hearings at the High Court over the years, though it was made clear in January that this would be the last one.
It's yet to be seen whether a £5m bridging loan has been secured.
Though in a statement following the last HMRC hearing Mr Martin confirmed he was "committed to delivering" a bridging loan which would "fill the funding gap, caused by successive relegations and loss of income during the pandemic".
What is the local MP doing?
Southend West MP Anna Firth has been championing the cause via a series of measures, including bringing it up in the House of Commons.
"My involvement all along has been to make sure the right meeting happen, with the right people, and the voice of the fans has been heard at the highest level", she said.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio the day before the winding-up hearing, she said she was confident the club would not go into liquidation.
"The club is absolutely integral to our community here. It is the very heart of our community. I am confident that Southend United will be playing on Friday."
She added, "I think there's two very bright stars on the horizon. One is the players themselves and their amazing performance. Secondly, getting into their new stadium at Fossetts Farm."
What do the fans think?
Liam Ager is Co-Editor of the Southend United fanzine, All at Sea. He says there's a feeling of unease amongst the fans.
"In the past we've borrowed money, we've sold players, etc. in order to survive. But we're not really in a position where we're able to do that quite so much anymore, so it's really worrying."
He added: "As we've dropped through the leagues, everyone is acutely aware that there's less money coming into the club now.
"With such a high debt to pay, I think there is a real concern that we're going to go under this time."
But according to Liam, the dedication of the players and the non-playing staff at the club is incredible and recent performances on the pitch are a testament to that.
He concluded: "I think there are dozens of people, like me, who use the football club as their tool for social cohension.
"It's an enormously relevant part of mental health, especially men's mental health, and I think the death of Southend United would have huge ripples across the town, across the county, and across the country really."