Wednesday 9 January 2019 19:22, UK
League One Southend have been served with a winding-up petition for unpaid tax by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The Essex club have been regulars in London's insolvency courts over the last decade, once receiving four winding-up petitions in a six-month spell in 2010.
Southend's fans had hoped those days were behind them when owner Ron Martin settled the last outstanding tax bill in May 2016.
But, in a notice filed on the official public record for insolvency petitions - the Gazette - HMRC presented Southend with their latest demand on December 13 and the case is scheduled to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice on February 6.
Between 2010 and 2016, Southend faced as many as a dozen winding-up petitions, most of them from HMRC, with Martin repeatedly settling the debts just before insolvency action started.
Currently managed by former player Chris Powell and 10th in the table, Southend have been trying to move from their Roots Hall home to a new development at Fossetts Farm, on the edge of the Essex town, for over 20 years.
The club have recently asked fans to write to the local council in support of the latest update on their planning permission application.
They also reached a financial settlement with former manager Phil Brown in October. after his sacking 12 months ago.
