P eeling from a boarded-up building outside Roots Hall is an old poster. It shows a glimpse of a possible future, the image that of a grand white stadium with a sweeping concourse and fans chatting before the match.
Underneath there is a line that reads “making Southend proud” and above, the slogan “Bring it on!” Once perhaps an exclamation of joy, it now reads like desperation.
On Wednesday Southend United face a winding-up petition in the high court, the result of unpaid taxes to HM Revenue & Customs.
It marks the 18th such petition in the 25 years that the chairman, Ron Martin, has owned the club and it is hardly their only problem.
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