THE man behind C&K Basildon Ladies admits the team is suffering after a deal to link-up with Southend United was put on hold.

Peter King, managing director at the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division outfit, reveals the leading women’s club in Essex was in talks with the Southend United Community & Educational Trust about becoming, what King hoped would be, the Southend United Ladies team.

But King said Blues have chosen to focus on the ongoing plans to move to Fossetts Farm and continue to push for promotion in League One and secure a return to the Championships, among other commitments.

King, while admitting the relationship with Southend is still “excellent”, says it is becoming more difficult to lure players to the club, with C&K not tied to a professional outfit like the majority of the other sides in their division.

And he says something will have to change in the not-too-distant future.

“We have got the stage where we are suffering now and could do better in terms of attracting players to the club,” he said. “We are not connected to a recognised league club and that is a problem. In our vicinity the best players will go West Ham, Charlton, Millwall or maybe even Tottenham, as if you mention C&K Basildon people will just say ‘who?’

“We had positive discussions with the Trust managing director and latterly with Geoff King, on the Chair of Trustees, but they wanted to put on back-burner due to commitments with the stadium redevelopment and progressing into the Championship.

“We understand that so the matter had been left open for discussion for next season. We are good friends and we hope for positive discussions in the future.

“We have been proud of what we have done up to now but we want to give ourselves the best chance going forward.”

King says Southend United have girls teams up to the under-18 age group but with no women’s team at present the teenagers are left searching for a club after that.

And, while his primary hope is that a deal can be struck with Southend in the future, King says he and manager Steve Tilson, who was in charge of the Shrimpers between 2003 and 2010, need to look forward.

“There is no natural avenue after the U18s to move into a senior team and we thought it would make sense,” said King.

“There might be other avenues to be explored within the county or on the fringes of east London but Southend is the premier professional club in the county and we are strong and proud representatives of Essex.

“We have a problem getting players but once they are here and see the training abilities of Steve and Danny (Greaves) then they are so pleased to be here,” he added.

“I would say to players give us a chance as it is like a big family but a lot of it is down to the attractiveness of the name. We have added some great players last season but we are still do not appear as attractive as other clubs.

“We will try and make a decision between now and the end of the year as to which way we can go. Alternatives may not be as good as the first one but if we want to press on which is what Steve (Tilson) wants, we will do.

“This would be the last piece of a complicated jigsaw.”