A TURBULENT week ended in triumph for Southend United on Saturday.

A second half spot-kick from Marcus Dackers saw the Shrimpers win at Wealdstone.

And, in doing so, Kevin Maher’s side raised the spirits of supporters who would have headed into the clash concerned by yet more financial issues coming out of the club.

Echosport revealed in the build up to the match how members of Blues’ backroom staff had waited 21 days for their August pay packets and that some had been limiting their workload.

As such, it was another reminder that, despite some improvements, everything is still not rosy behind the scenes at Roots Hall.

Chief executive Tom Lawrence deserves credit for the job he has done steadying a ship which seemed destined to sink before his arrival.

But it is clear big problems remain.

The staff waiting for their wages may not be ones who hit the headlines or are too well known publicly but they are good, professional people working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything can continue to operate as smoothly as possible.

Quite simply, their dedication deserves so much better and so do the loyal supporters.

The two relegations in the last three years and the fact Blues even find themselves at this level is largely down to the financial mismanagement of the club.

Lengthy embargoes hit hard and so did youngsters being thrust into the team long before they were anywhere near being ready to feature so frequently, All in all it has been the most painful period in the club’s long history and, while the focus must now be on the future, the recent past underlines the seriousness of the issues surrounding the Shrimpers.

Yes, I am biased but Southend United is a fine club and that was shown again on Saturday.

The side were roared on by more than 900 travelling supporters who have stayed with the club during a dire period, and they played a crucial part in helping the 10 man Blues battle their way to victory.

There is also plenty to admire when it comes to head coach Kevin Maher, a man who is also fully aware of what the club means and where it could be if run properly.

On the pitch, Saturday’s clash was quite an even affair but for once a bit of luck went the Shrimpers’ way and it enabled them to pick up their first away win of the season.

Referee Scott Tallis pointed to the spot on the advice of his assistant after a right wing cross from Gus Scott-Morriss had hit the arm of the Wealdstone’s Olufela Olomola inside the area.

It was a decision which could easily have gone either way But Dackers banished Blues’ issues from the penalty spot to make the most of the opportunity.

The Shrimpers had failed to score four of their last five penalties before Dackers’ confident effort at the weekend.

But it was not just his spot-kick which caught the eye on Saturday.

The striker popped up all over the pitch, especially after Scott-Morriss had been sent off midway through the second half.

And Blues must now look to extend his loan deal which is currently due to expire in early October.

Dackers has two goals in three games and his latest effort saw the Shrimpers work their way up to 14th in the National League standings.

But, on paper at least, a more favourable run of fixtures now awaits and Blues will be keen to work their way up the table.

The talent seems to be there in the team, along with the determination and defensive solidity which has seen the side keep five clean sheets in their last eight games.

However, just how far the club can go will continue to depend on just how well it can be run.

All eyes will be on chairman Ron Martin where that is concerned and he must put the club’s needs before his own if the Shrimpers are to ever get anywhere near being back where they belong.

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>Dackers wants win to be a springboard for Blues