A MATCH Southend United should have won and then could have lost ended in stalemate at Roots Hall on Saturday.

The Shrimpers twice took the lead in their 2-2 draw with Altrincham.

And it was ultimately a calamitous mix up between Blues defender Kacper Lopata and goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu which led to the visitors securing a share of the spoils.

But for me and, here is something I never thought I would say, the footballing side of things is starting to feel far less important given my fears for the future of the football club.

Each week seems to bring new financial issues, the latest of which saw all academy matches called off at the weekend due to coaches not being paid.

Adding to that, office staff are again waiting to pick up their pay packets and there is simply no sign of a deeply concerning situation getting any better.

In fact, it only ever gets worse.

As such, the actual intricacies of Saturday’s encounter appear almost immaterial and akin to worrying about changing the colour of the wallpaper in a house which is crumbling in front of your very eyes.

The biggest worry, of course, remains the winding up petition issued by HMRC which also sees the Shrimpers crippled by a transfer embargo that was put in place at the end of September.

A few days after that news broke, chairman Ron Martin said bridging finance had been agreed and once it had been completed ‘in weeks not months’ it would remove the HMRC debt in full.

Well that statement was released 65 days ago and we have heard nothing since.

It is simply not good enough and those who continue to guess when they will get paid, along with the supporters continuing to back the side in big numbers deserve so much better.

The ongoing levels of increasing uncertainty are no good for anybody either.

And fans deserve to know the truth because, after all, it is their club.

Supporters might not like what they hear but this situation is beyond that now and everyone connected with the club deserves to know exactly what is happening and what plans are in place to ensure the Shrimpers survive.

Yes, it is understood funds will be released once building work starts on Boots & Laces.

But when will that begin and how do Blues even make that far given their current issues?

Only Ron Martin knows the answers to those huge questions and it is a situation I find heart-breaking for so many different reasons.

Yes I am biased but Southend United is a special club and one that has such immense potential.

But we continue to be let down and it is starting to affect matters on the field too.

Blues are now severely short of attacking options with Callum Powell, Harry Cardwell, Rhys Murphy and Jake Hyde all sidelined along with Dan Mooney who was stretchered off against his former side on Saturday.

Chris Wreh played on Saturday despite an Achilles problem while Kevin Maher’s only other senior option in attack is the on loan Aaron Cosgrave who has not looked like scoring since joining from AFC Wimbledon.

Adding to that, Blues were also unable to keep Marcus Dackers at the club due to the embargo and there are now problems at the other end of the pitch too.

Goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi has joined fellow shot-stopper Steve Arnold on the sidelines with a hamstring injury which could keep him out of action for the next two months.

And Maher is unable to sign any replacements at this stage.

Maher and those around him have performed miracles to get the Shrimpers to sixth in the National League standings with the ongoing off the field issues.

But it is where Blues go from here which remains the biggest concern of all and just how football not finances can finally start to be the main talking point once again.

READ MORE

>Blues boss reacts to draw with Altrincham