Southend granted ‘final’ adjournment to find buyer

Roots Hall has been the home of Southend United since the stadium was built in 1955Southend 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 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.More to follow.

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