Southend United has been pulled back from the brink of financial disaster with an 11th hour rescue package.

After two days of brinkmanship between Blues' chairman John Main and the club's principal benefactor Delancey Estates, the company was yesterday (Wednesday) due to settle a £400,000 Inland Revenue bill.

But it became clear that Mr Main would pay the price for his steadfast refusal to resign - with Delancey declaring it would sack him both as chairman and as a director.

That was despite Mr Main receiving a hero's welcome from some sections of the fans at Tuesday night's home friendly with Gillingham.

Yesterday morning's move came just a couple of hours before the club was to face a winding up order in the High Court, which would have led to the administrators being called in.

Delancey had been holding out for Mr Main's resignation before stepping in as the club's saviour - but when a deadline for him to quit passed without him stepping down, Delancey had to decide whether to pull the plug - or save the Blues.

The £1.5 million rescue package, which would clear the club's debts, was dependant on Mr Main resigning as chairman - a move he refused to contemplate.

Speaking yesterday morning just before the court case was due to go ahead, Delancey Estates' deputy chairman Colin Wagman said "There will be a settlement, we are confident Southend United will not be wound up today."

But he went on: "I am bitterly disappointed at John Main's actions, if he does not resign the board will remove him."

Mr Wagman said that they had anticipated a role for Mr Main as a director.

But after he refused to step down Mr Wagman said they could no longer work with him.

He said: "What he has done in the past 24 hours has proved to us that he can have no role on the board. What he has said and done has made it clear to us that all he wants is to be chairman.

"We cannot have someone who puts himself above the club and other people."

Mr Main yesterday welcomed the news that Delancey Estates would bail out Blues financially, but stubbornly stuck to his guns and refused to resign.

"I'm not going anywhere and I will fight this to the bitter end," he said.

"It's great news for everybody involved with Southend United that Delancey are going to stump up the cash, but as for their plans to sack me, that's just what I wanted to hear.

"They'll have to call an extraordinary general meeting to get rid of me, which gives me 21 days to prepare myself for the battle ahead.

"As for Delancey's claims that they were going to keep me on the board, what a load of rubbish!"

Martin Dawn chairman Ron Martin, who has just returned from France, said the payment of the tax bill proved that both Delancey Estates and his own company support the ailing club.

"Once again the major shareholder has demonstrated his backing of the football club and the good work that John Main has put in at Roots Hall in the past," he said.

"John and I need to get together over the next few days and speak about the future."

Mr Main had reiterated his vow to stay and fight last night and told fans who went to watch the club's 3-1 defeat that he did not believe Delancey would carry out their threat to pull the plug.

The fans meanwhile made it clear their loyalty lay with their beleaguered chairman.

Just over an hour into the game a group of more than 20 supporters clambered over the wall into the director's box clutching posters spelling out the word "Wrong" and chanting "We love you Johnny Main".

Earlier, as Mr Main took his normal chairman's seat, fans around the ground chanted "Stand up if you love John Main". It was without warning that a group in the East stand, led by 29-year-old Blues fan Damian Brown from Wickford, clambered over the four foot dividing wall and began their protest.

Mr Main came over to greet them and was immediately hugged and mobbed.

Mr Brown said: "He is the best thing that has happened to this club. He is the only chairman who has put in effort to talk to the fans. We won't let him go."

When the final whistle blew Mr Main, accompanied by his wife Lorraine, made his way out of the box.

But he waved to cheering fans as he left and told the Echo: "I don't think I will be chairman here much longer. They've got 76 per cent of the shares and they can get me out any time they want.

"But the way they've gone about it, the way they're trying to replace me with a property man who knows nothing about football just makes me resentful."

Mobbed by cheering fans he tearfully said: "I hope the club can go forward. I would like to be part of the future here but...I just hope the club goes on."

(Right) Facing the sack - John Main with supporters at Tuesday night's match

(Left) Hail to the chief - John Main gets vocal support from Damian Brown

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

By James Taylor and Bernie Friend

Reporter's e-mail: james.taylor@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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

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