TOM Cruise was rumoured to be filming in Basildon this week.

But if the Hollywood actor had headed slightly further down the A127 he would have really found out about ‘Mission Impossible.’

Southend United boss Kevin Maher led his Shrimpers squad into Saturday’s clash with York City with none of them having been paid.

Yet, the problems do not stop there.

Office staff have not been paid since November, the youth team’s unpaid scholars are not prepared to play, the club have been in a transfer embargo since September and also owe money to St John Ambulance.

The financial issues also meant there were no programmes for Saturday’s match but the most concerning issue of all remains the winding up petition issued by HMRC which sees the Shrimpers back in court at the start of March.

But, despite all of those worries and concerns, Blues again dug deep to secure a 2-0 victory which saw them work their way back into the National League play-off positions.

Right now, the playing side of things can perhaps seem quite insignificant given the seriousness of issues elsewhere.

However, this Southend side and its management deserve real praise and so do those continuing to work behind the scenes.

People in commercial, catering, accounts and wherever else do not normally feature in any kind of reports.

But it is important to recognise their efforts publicly because without their commitment to the club Saturday’s game would simply not have taken place.

On the pitch, Blues produced a workmanlike performance to get back to winning ways.

In a game where the first goal was also going to prove crucial, Shrimpers boss Maher named a starting line-up which made his side harder to break down.

And it worked.

Jack Bridge started in a more central position before seeming to drift back onto the left hand in the second half where he ultimately proved to be the matchwinner.

Bridge won and scored a penalty before sealing victory for the Shrimpers with another well-taken effort.

In doing so, it took his season’s tally to seven and continued his improvement where end product is concerned.

The tricky winger always stood out when working his way through the youth ranks at Roots Hall but prior to this season he had never scored more than three goals in the same campaign.

That always seemed low for someone of his undoubted talent but Bridge is now delivering more regularly and will be loving hitting the back of the net for his hometown club.

So determined was Bridge to succeed for the Shrimpers that he actually turned down a move to Arsenal before signing his contract for the youth-team.

And he is now by far Blues’ biggest creative force.

Other highlights on Saturday included fit-again forward Rhys Murphy making his first start since January 2022 after recovering from a long-term knee injury while at the other end of the field goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu showed good character to secure a clean sheet.

The on loan Stoke City was at fault for two goals in Blues’ 3-1 defeat to Eastleigh last time out.

But, despite one or two scares on Saturday, he was able to shut out the Minstermen to momentarily lift the spirits of the brilliant Shrimpers supporters.

Close to 6,000 fans were there again on Saturday and one spoke to me quite poignantly on his way out of the stadium.

After 60 odd years supporting the club, he told me at feeling quite emotional amid the scenes that followed Bridge’s second goal as he continued to fear for the future of his club.

All of us with Blues in our heart are feeling the same way right now and any slight moment of joy is eventually replaced by sorrow over what might happen.

The bigger picture remains deeply concerning and chairman Ron Martin needs to put the needs of the club before his own.

But right now the crisis engulfing the club seems to deepen daily and just when Blues appear to have hit rock bottom they descend deeper into chaos.

Quite when this will end, nobody knows.

And even if the Shrimpers do make it beyond March the likelihood is similar situations will arise once again further down the line.

It is simply a devastating scenario so many people simply do not deserve.

But until Ron Martin is prepared to relinquish some or all of his grasp of the club, Southend United will remain a horror show waiting to happen.