Martin: 'Necessary finances are in place to steer this ship into calmer waters'
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse the club released a statement Wednesday afternoon informing us they still owed Her Majesty's Taxman around £200,000 from April and May this year.
SUFC, which has appeared several times in the High Court over unpaid tax debts in the last 12 months, will be back in London on July 8th after they were served with winding-up papers for oustanding PAYE contributions.
A statement on www.southendunited.co.uk informed us: "Southend United has been subject to several winding-up petitions over the past 12 months but the club has always met their debt in full, albeit late."
They might just be getting a little pissed off with that boys.
However, don't worry, all is well, Chairman Ron Martin is riding to the rescue once again.
He said: "I will ensure that the entire sum is settled before the hearing. And I will continue to ensure that the necessary finances are in place in order to steer this ship into calmer waters. HMRC were quick off the mark as they are with football clubs and of course are entitled to be."
Well that's all right then, Captain Ron is in charge of S.S. Shrimper, lifeboats anyone?
This of course adds to the news that we now do not have enough full-time professionals on the books at the moment to field a full eleven when the new league season kicks off on August 7th, and we can't sign anyone anyway due to the transfer embargo as the club forgot to pay the players now and again!
If you want to read the statement in full, go here:
www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~2081862,00.html