SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher admits he fears for the welfare of his players following their 2-1 defeat to AFC Fylde at Roots Hall on Saturday.

The setback sent the Shrimpers back to the foot of the National League table.

And Maher felt it again showed the workload being placed on his small squad.

“My concern is player welfare at times,” said Maher.

“We’re go into games with 12 or 13 players and that just can’t be right.

“The players and staff are the ones we get punished and it’s none of our doing at all.

“We’re giving everything for this football club and it’s tough.

“I understand the situation but there’s got to be an easier way of doing it.”

Blues are allowed to register just 16 players due to the transfer embargo they have remained for the past 12 months.

But the busy schedule, combined with injuries and suspensions, is starting to take its toll.

“The players are tired and when you can’t change it’s tough,” said Maher.

“Harry Taylor was back from suspension today but he’s good food poisoning so we couldn’t really call on him.

“Wes (Fonguck) pulled out of training on Friday with a tight quad but felt OK to play and there a few others carrying things.

“You can see they’re shattered and sometimes there’s mental fatigue too.

“They went deep on Tuesday and how to go on again today.

“All the other clubs in the league and change things but we can't."

Despite that, Blues cancelled out an early opener from Taelor O'Kane when Harry Cardwell netted in the second half.

And Maher felt at that point the Shrimpers were pushing for all three points.

"To end up losing was frustrating after we got ourselves back into it," said the Shrimpers boss.

"We looked like the team trying to go on to win it but they’ve done us on the counter attack.

"Credit to the players, they kept pushing and pushing and it was brilliant from them.

"If we had got a point it would have been absolutely brilliant after the week we've had.