SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher has called for more to be done to help the welfare of his players.

The Shrimpers – who have been in a transfer embargo for the past 13 months - struggled to select a matchday squad for this afternoon’s FA Cup clash at Yeovil Town.

And Maher wants the National League to delve deeper into the situation which saw Blues having just three players on the bench for the 2-0 defeat against the Glovers at Huish Park.

"Probably someone from the National League should come into the training ground and have a look," said Maher.

"I think they might think we’re trying to manoeuvre something or use something to give us an advantage but we’re not.

"We’re just trying to get players on the pitch and fit players too.

"We’re trying to get on a semi-level playing field.

"Even at the start of the season if they had said 18 players but 16 is bare minimum subs if everyone is fit and it becomes impossible.

"You can’t move people out to move people in and player welfare has to come into things."

Blues could name just three substitutes at Huish Park, with youth team midfielders Beau MacDonald and Ronnie Blake on the bench alongside a far from fully fit Nathan Ralph.

And the situation made the tie almost impossible for Maher.

"You're chucking young lads on into a men’s game which is difficult for them but credit to them too. for how they did," said Maher.

"But we’re not  on a level playing field.

"I get it’s our fault we’re in this situation but the ones we get punished all the time are the ones on the pitch.

"It becomes ever so hard when you lose players through injuries.

"When we lose Cav (Miley) and Noor (Husin), they’re big big players who we can’t afford to come out of the team at times.

"When you get that you can’t cope."

And Maher was unable to bring in reinforcements.

"We have to go cap in hand to find out what we can and can’t do on an individual basis," said Maher.

"Ralphy said he would go on if we needed him but I can’t do it and players who haven’t trained are going to have to play."

However, Maher was proud of how the players who were available fought for the team.

"I’ll always be proud of how they go about things and what they give," said the Blues boss.

"They kept trying and trying and it’s not their fault today.