Southend United players wait for November pay (From Echo)

Southend United players wait for November pay

2:34pm Monday 10th December 2012 in Sport Exclusive By Chris Phillips

Skipper Chris Barker (pictured) and his Blues team-mates have not been paid for November

SOUTHEND United’s players have gone in to their last three games without having been paid their November salaries, the Echo can reveal.

The Blues squad were due to receive their wages on Friday, November 30.

But all of them had still not been paid by yesterday lunchtime.

“It’s nothing new now, but the players and most of the staff were still waiting to be paid their wages for November,” said a source close to the club.

“It’s a very frustrating situation for all concerned and nobody is entirely sure when they are going to get paid either.

“It’s obviously being spoken about quite regularly, but everyone deserves great credit for the way they are continuing to perform in these difficult circumstances.”

Blues made it 10 games without defeat by drawing 0-0 at Fleetwood Town on Saturday and Paul Sturrock’s side have also risen up in to the play-off places, despite the off field difficulties.

The club were not available to comment on the situation.

Meanwhile, Blues have moved to ease fans fears after being subjected to a winding up order from HMRC.

Details of the petition were published online over the weekend.

But a club spokesman insisted that the debt was no longer outstanding and there was no case to be answered.

“Everything has now been sorted with this and we have it in writing that the debt has been paid,” said the spokesman.

“The case is due to be heard today but nobody from the club will be in attendance because it’s all been resolved.”

Blues have had many battles with HMRC in recent seasons and had to pay off a debt of £2.15million in November 2009 to avoid being put in to administration.