Southend United chairman John Main today launched a scathing attack on the struggling Third Division club's highly-paid team of underachievers.

In an exclusive interview the Roots Hall supremo lashed out at the Seasiders' players, angrily blaming them for putting Blues' long-suffering supporters through yet another miserable campaign.

For the second successive season Southend, currently floundering in 17th place, are drifting among the basement league's deadwood, which Main refuses to tolerate again next term.

"I have continuously supported the players, but I think it is high time they started asking themselves a few home truths," blasted the chairman, whose wage-bill is thought to be £1.5million a year.

"The wages we are paying at this club are at promotion levels and I wouldn't be surprised if we weren't the highest payers in this division.

"But our players must realise that we need to win promotion if we are to justify our hefty wage-bill, but when you're heading for another finish in the bottom third you have to admit you have failed.

"There's no point getting upset with the chairman or the manager though, it's the players' fault because they haven't delivered the goods.

"In the real world, which our fans will know from their own jobs, you get sacked if you fail, but that doesn't happen to professional footballers because they've got contracts and there's nothing you can do about it.

"If they get dropped for poor performances, they still get paid because of their contract, which I find very hard to accept in hindsight of this season."

Main also accused his players of lacking heart and letting down their band of loyal supporters.

"I don't think losing hurts our players enough, but it certainly hurts our fans who are spending their hard earned money travelling all over the country without any reward," he said.

"When we journey back on the team coach from an away match which has ended in defeat I'm absolutely gutted, as is our manager Alan Little and his number two Mick Gooding, but the players are laughing and joking within half-an-hour, which just isn't right.

"But the reality is going to come home for a lot of them now as their contracts are up for renewal and they are going to lose their jobs because they have failed as a squad.

"Some of these players want to re-negotiate their deals believing they are worth a pay increase - they must be living in cloud cuckoo land!

"The squad will be strengthened over the summer, the manager knows what he wants and he has my total support - and if that means signing a player whose long lost aunt, three generations removed lived in York, then so be it."

Main also publicly backed his manager, although playing down talk of a dreaded vote of confidence.

"Alan Little and his coaching staff put a lot of hard work into preparing the players and I still believe he will bring success to this club," said Main.

"We all know the quality this current squad has, but quite frankly they have only produced it on a handful of occasions this season, as they have let me, the manager and the fans down.

"But if there is anyone out there who is thinking of organising a campaign to get rid of Alan, then they can talk about getting rid of the pair of us!"

Blues' reserves take on Colchester United at Roots Hall tomorrow afternoon, kick-off 2pm.

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