# Southend United Close to Being Rescued from National League Crisis
Southend United, a National League crisis club, is close to being rescued. BBC Sport understands that a consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees is increasingly optimistic of completing a deal that would be welcomed with euphoria by fans, who have campaigned for owner Ron Martin’s removal. Talks are continuing with creditors and while a chance of administration remains, an announcement could come later on Tuesday.
The Shrimpers are due to face a winding-up petition in the High Court on Wednesday, having been warned by the judge that he will put them out of business if their debts are not paid. It was felt Martin was ready to put Southend into administration to avoid the club being wound up, even though that would incur a second hefty points deduction. Southend have already been docked 10 points for failing to clear an estimated £275,000 of tax debts, and their appeal against that deduction [was rejected last week](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66923011). They sit second from bottom of the National League table, despite winning five and drawing three of their 13 matches this season.
## The History of Southend United
Southend United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, and currently playing in the National League, the fifth tier of English football. The club was founded in 1906 and has played at Roots Hall Stadium since 1955, when they moved from their original home at Kursaal Park in Southend town centre.
Southend have been members of the Football League since 1920 and have won the Football League Trophy on two occasions, in 2004 and 2005, as well as reaching the final of the FA Cup in 2006 and the EFL Cup in 2014 and 2016. The club has also been successful in non-league football, winning the Conference Premier in 2006 and the National League in 2018–19, earning promotion to League Two for the 2019–20 season.
## The Current Situation
Southend United have been struggling financially for some time now and were relegated from League One at the end of the 2020–21 season due to their financial woes. The club has been unable to pay its players and staff on time and has been threatened with a winding up petition from HMRC over unpaid taxes amounting to £275,000.
The club has also been docked 10 points for failing to clear its debt and its appeal against the deduction was rejected last week, leaving them second from bottom of the National League table despite winning five and drawing three of their 13 matches this season.
## The Rescue Deal
However, there is now hope for Southend United as a consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees is close to completing a deal that would save the club from its financial woes and secure its future in the National League. Talks are continuing with creditors and while a chance of administration remains, an announcement could come later on Tuesday and would be greeted with euphoria by fans who have campaigned for owner Ron Martin’s removal for some time now.
## Conclusion
Southend United have been struggling financially for some time now and were facing a winding up petition from HMRC over unpaid taxes amounting to £275,000 as well as a 10 point deduction from the Football League for failing to clear its debt. However, there is now hope for Southend United as a consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees is close to completing a deal that would save the club from its financial woes and secure its future in the National League. Talks are continuing with creditors and while a chance of administration remains, an announcement could come later on Tuesday and would be welcomed with euphoria by fans who have campaigned for owner Ron Martin’s removal for some time now.