Southend are in the clear

Southend United have settled their £400,000 debt with the taxman and have brought wages up to date.  Although they face an immediate relegation struggle, their chairman has signalled that their ambitions extend beyond League 1 in the longer run.   This is always a difficult choice for a lower division club.   If you say you are going to stay as you, you are unlikely to build support and may slip backwards.   But if you are too ambitious, you may overspend and end up in a financial mess.

Southend have the prospect of a new stadium, but the town is within easy reach of London and its Premiership clubs.