GARY Lineker has spoken of his sadness at seeing Southend United fighting for its future.

Shrimpers supporters do not know if their club will exist beyond their next appearance in the High Court at the start of October.

And, speaking on his Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker has wished Blues well.

“It's desperate times,” said the Match of the Day host.

“It would be lovely if a fit and proper person came in and saved the club and the fans got what they wanted.

“Hopefully the current owner will try and do his best for the football club and the local community.

“It would be a tragedy if Southend went under because it means that much.

“When football is so awash with so much money you just wonder how this can happen and perhaps there’s a way that football itself can help clubs in financial peril.”

However, the mismanagement of chairman Ron Martin has left the Shrimpers struggling to survive.

Blues sit at the foot of the National League standings after being docked 10 points for financial irregularities.

And Lineker is fully up to speed with the issues.

“The chairman Ron Martin has owned the club for 25 years and the fans clearly want him to sell because he’s probably not got the money to keep them afloat,” said the former England striker.

“There are all sorts of complications with land ownership and a possible new ground.

“They’ve had multiple court appearances over the years, more winding up orders than any other club.

“The Judge did say he would have liquidated the company had it not been for the fans and the value of it as a community asset.”

But Lineker also praised Blues for their performances on the pitch.

“The players have been amazing,” said Lineker.

“They’ve not been paid on occasions and some staff went without pay for months.

“They’ve had all sorts of problems and it’s really worrying to see because football in communities, in towns and cities is such an important thing.”

And those sentiments were echoed by former Manchester City defender Micah Richards.

“It’s so disheartening to hear,” said Richards.

“As a young boy I was always asked what I wanted to do when I was older and it was always to play football.

“You’d always gravitate towards your local club and you would do whatever it takes to keep that local club afloat.

“The local club to me at the time was Farsley Celtic and we did everything in our power as a community to keep it afloat.

“It was always about having a club you could connect to and enjoy.”

But Richards feels Blues’ plight explains why people are keen for football to an independent regulator.

“When you have someone come in and take over the club without that feel this is always what was going to happen,” said Richards.

“This is why Gary Neville talks about the fit and proper test so much and an independent regulator because it’s getting clubs in positions like this where they have no say.

“That’s what we don’t want.”