Concerns growing for Southend United, on and off the pitch

Now, having watched Blues for the past 31 years, I’m fully aware of the up and down nature of a lower League club and how quickly things can change.

But the Shrimpers have been on a downward trajectory for the past few years.

And, in truth, it now appears things have hit rock bottom.

Southend have been beaten in their opening four fixtures of the new season and currently sit at the foot of the entire Football League.

However, that perhaps only tells half the story as Blues are also struggling badly away from the field too.

The club were handed a six week extension to pay off a tax bill of close to £500,000 earlier in the week.

But, with the coronavirus pandemic still stopping the vast majority of gate receipts, there have to be concerns as to how and when the debt can be cleared.

And if it does get paid will it come too late to save the Shrimpers’ season and ultimately their Football League status?

Because make no mistake about it, Blues are in for another long, hard battle this term unless Mark Molesley is given the freedom to strengthen his side in the key areas of the pitch.

Right now Molesley is limited in what he can do due to a transfer embargo which basically means a ‘one in, one out’ operation is currently in place.

The Shrimpers have the freedom to register a 23 man squad and are now facing a horrible dilemma ahead of trying to bring in reinforcements.

Do they look to try and talk a youngster into cancelling a contract which was signed only a few months ago or do they look to try and cash in on the likes of Elvis Bwomono and Charlie Kelman who are likely to be the most sought after players?

Both situations are far from ideal but desperate needs call for desperate measures and that is exactly where Blues find themselves right now.

The club could have made things slightly easier for themselves by delaying registering certain players – just like they have with Michael Klass – to enable stronger and more experienced signings.

But that opportunity is now not available and Molesley finds himself with by far the hardest job in the Football League.

There are some talented youngsters in the Shrimpers squad but most of them are not ready to be thrown straight in, with no experience around them, and be required to play week in, week out.

Put simply it is men against boys right now and the saddest thing about the situation is there is no sign of how and when it will end.

Of course, those currently on the sidelines – Timothee Dieng, Harrry Lennon, Jason Demetriou and John White – will make a difference when they return.

But sadly all of them have been hit by injuries in recent seasons and seem unlikely to be able to string together the run of games which are required.

On Saturday, Blues matched their hosts early on but as soon as Carlisle broke the deadlock the game was over as a contest and only a trio of fine saves from Mark Oxley stopped the visitors suffering a far more convincing defeat.

The Shrimpers look soft and weak in key areas of the pitch and are crying out for more aggression and power at both ends of the pitch.

The arrival of Alan McCormack can help bring steel to the centre of the park as well as vocal leadership qualities which have long been missing at Blues.

But McCormack cannot do it all alone, especially in the twilight stages of his career.

The Shrimpers also brought in striker Simeon Akinola last week but he is short of match sharpness and question marks must surround whether or not he has actually been registered.

Akinola would certainly be a welcome addition, especially with Blues looking shot-shy in attack.

Charlie Kelman – of whom plenty is expected – has looked strangely subdued so far and Southend actually ended Saturday’s game without an actual striker on the pitch.

But these problems can no longer be brushed under the carpet and chairman Ron Martin must confront them if perhaps the most miserable chapter in the club’s 114 year history is to have any kind of happy ending.