Southend United is a club in crisis after finally admitting they have been placed under a transfer embargo by the Football League.

The Shrimpers, who now have just 12 fit professional players available, had long denied claims of the embargo.

But the Echo understands it has been in place for the last four weeks.

Southend have opted to make the news public after failing to extend the loan spell of left-back George Friend from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Blues had hoped to keep the 22-year-old for another month but the move was turned down by the Football League because of the club’s debt of £660,000 to HM Revenue and Customs which has resulted in a winding up order in High Court this Wednesday.

“On Monday last week the club agreed to extend George Friend’s loan with Wolverhampton Wanderers,” said a club statement.

“The paperwork was then submitted to the Football League who subsequently advised that the newly-adopted rules (June) relating to HMRC prevented us from extending the loan until the HMRC position was sorted.

“The Football League’s reading of the new rules did not reflect that of the club’s secretary who, having already agreed the position with Wolves, believed there was no reason to prevent an extension of the loan.

“While the Football League wish to be helpful this was the first potential challenge to the new ruling — something Southend United Football Club did not wish to do. The club has a good working relationship with the Football League, which it wishes to maintain.

“Once the club has settled its case with HMRC we will speak further with Wolves and while the original loan was only requested for one month George has performed well and the manager would now like to keep the player for at least a further month.”

The Shrimpers have not made a signing since bringing Friend and striker Roy O’Donovan to the club on loan in mid-September, even though they currently have just 12 fit professional players available.

That meagre total includes two goalkeepers and just three defenders.

Anthony Grant is therefore having to perform as a makeshift defender and Tilson had to include two youth team players — Kyle Asante and Callum Whittaker — in his squad at the weekend for the 2-1 defeat at Carlisle on Saturday.

On loan Chelsea midfielder Lee Sawyer did not make the trip to Brunton Park after failing to attend the pre-match meeting.

“Lee was sent home from training on Thursday for another breach of club discipline,” read another club statement.

“His failure to attend Thursday’s pre-match meeting at the training ground, where the team were to prepare for the weekend’s opposition, has angered both his team-mates and managerial staff.”

To make matters worse striker Dougie Freedman limped off during the game with a groin problem and he now joins Osei Sankofa, Jean Yves M’Voto and Damian Scannell on the sidelines.