Football League officials have been discussing the future of Third Division crisis club Southend United.

The Blues' financial and boardroom struggles were on the agenda for soccer chiefs at a meeting in London on Thursday.

The Football League is concerned about the club's last-gasp escape from a £400,000 High Court winding up order lodged by the Inland Revenue last month.

They are also looking into Blues' joint major shareholders, property developers Delancey Estates and Martin Dawn plc, and their plans to dispose of disputed club chairman John Main at an extraordinary general meeting.

A Football League spokesman said: "We are aware of what has been happening at Roots Hall and are very concerned.

"The Football League board meets today and Southend United's recent problems will be high on our agenda. We have been keeping a close eye on Southend ever since we learned about the winding up order against the club last month.

"We will closely monitor Roots Hall as we continue to assess the situation. The last thing we want to do is start losing any of our member clubs."

Mr Main, who has held talks with Colchester United chairman Peter Heard, a member of the Football League board, said: "I met Peter because I felt it was my responsibility to report to the football club's governing body and make them fully aware of just what is going on at Roots Hall.

"Hopefully, they can influence what is going on at the club and bring the different parties together.

"This whole scenario has come from a delay on the property side, which has burdened the football club financially. Delancey and Martin Dawn have renegotiated their own deal, but who is looking after the interests of Southend United?

"The Football League needs to convince the property companies to reduce the high interest rates they are crippling Southend with, as well as extending the rent-free period on Roots Hall.

"This football club can't continue to trade in its current situation and these people need to be made aware of the fact."

Southend United's deputy chairman Geoffrey King, a director of Martin Dawn, said: "The club has provided the Football League with the information that it requested as well as confirming that it is in a position to meet its commitments for the season."

Football accounts Deloitte and Touche have revealed that the 72 Football League clubs made a combined loss of £69million in the last financial year. The 20 elite Premiership clubs made the same figure in profit.

By Bernie Friend

Reporter's e-mail: bernie.friend@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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