AN Echo reader has his say.

I am sure many will have read the proceedings at Southend Council on Thursday night with great concern.

In the early part of the meeting the leader, councillor Cox, declared that the chief executive, Rob Tinlin, had been instructed to search out all opportunities to deal with the looming deficit of up to £14million.

He did not mention at that stage the issue of Southend United.

I was watching the webcast and the leader was clearly taken aback by the proposal from councillor Woodley to spend £2million, taken from reserves or other projects to rescue the club, that is to pay the accumulating debts owed to the HMRC and other creditors.

It could be argued that such sums would represent fair value for the community.

However there should be no question of handing anything at all to the current chairman.

Southend United gave FC Halifax a lesson in football last Saturday but the recent history of the Yorkshire club has a lesson for us.

The predecessor club went into administration and dissolved in 2008 and was able rapidly to re-form.

It was able to resume playing as a semi professional club in the eighth tier of the football pyramid.

Southend United could do likewise and progress to the National League.

DENIS GARNE

Herongate, Shoebury