‘Here we go again’ – Fans react after Southend issued new winding-up order

Southend United’s financial problems continue as another winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs has been issued.

The Shrimpers are no strangers to winding-up petitions and most recently had one issued in July after a further two petitions were issued at the start of the year.

It had also been reported by the BBC that back in April players and staff were paid their wages a number of days late.

Club chairman Ron Martin took over the club in 1998 and appears to be the main source of funding for the club after he dealt with numerous debts including a 2009 tax bill which almost saw the club go into administration.

The club currently sit 22nd in League One with just one point from their first eight games.

The new petition is due to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice on 16 October.

Although fans have lived through numerous winding-up orders that have come to nothing, many of them are still worried about the clubs financial state:

Here we go again again again again…..

— andy skinner (@southendandy) September 19, 2019

@CJPhillips1982 @shrimperstrust worrying that we still can’t pay our tax bills on time. Surely they’ll wind us up sooner or later if this carries on?

— ArrivaHater (@ArrivaHater) September 19, 2019

Are the players being paid? Could explain performances.

— jervetheswerve (@jervis_raymond) September 19, 2019

Ahh, ’tis our old chums, HMRC. Again. For the umpteenth time. It’s almost as if we have Stockholm Syndrome… as if Ron can’t bear to be apart from them in the Winders Court… #GroundhogDebt

— Matthew Walker (@lesleymatt) September 18, 2019

I was wondering if anything behind the scenes had been affecting performance, the winding up order might be that something..? Other than poor management

— Anthony Scarfe (@antsk) September 19, 2019