Southend takeover and future in doubt after delays

Southend United could spell retired of business later this period aft prospective buyers expressed "urgent" concerns astir their prolonged takeover attempts.

A winding-up petition, which was adjourned for nan last clip successful May, is group to he heard successful nan High Court connected 26 June.

The consortium, led by Australian businessman Justin Rees, says a spot constituent of nan statement which has caused nan takeover of nan National League broadside to stall now "seems certain" not to beryllium signed up of nan tribunal date.

Contracts were exchanged pinch long-time proprietor Ron Martin successful December, but nan takeover has still not been completed.

The consortium claims it is down to nan section assembly "consistently missing" owed diligence timelines complete lodging contracts relating to Roots Hall, wherever nan consortium wishes Southend to remain, and Fossetts Farm, wherever Martin had hoped to build a caller stadium.

The consortium, which calls itself Custodians of Southend United (COSU), issued a connection to opportunity they consciousness nan spot woody has now collapsed.

"Signing nan amended spot statement remains nan past information for nan completion of nan club’s waste and COSU cannot spot a way guardant without it," nan consortium said successful a statement.

"Last Friday, it became evident that nan assembly did not wish to advancement pinch nan spot woody on nan position antecedently agreed pinch nan Martins. As a result, location has been a information of renegotiation this week pinch some sides assuring america they intend to find a compromise.

"COSU is not straight progressive successful these negotiations though we proceed to accent nan urgency of nan business to all.

"Even if a discuss is reached, it seems definite that nan revised spot statement will not beryllium signed anterior to nan 26 June winding up proceeding for nan nine successful nan High Court."

BBC Sport has approached Southend‐on‐Sea City Council for a response.

The consortium has now made 3 demands if they are to proceed to money nan club, their effort to complete nan takeover and to fulfill creditors up of nan tribunal date.

With those demands, nan consortium opportunity they still want to "hit nan crushed running" if a nan takeover tin beryllium done.

"COSU wants to guarantee Southend fans that we are doing arsenic overmuch arsenic imaginable to hole for nan caller play successful parallel truthful that if nan woody does complete," they added.