by VIC CRESCIT Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Somebody at the club must have repeatedly run over a black cat in a tank. Yet again the injury curse has struck. Robin van Persie will be out, as things stand at the moment, for at least six weeks. He did his right ankle ligaments landing badly after a tackle playing for the Netherlands in their goalless draw in a friendly against Italy in the Stadio Adriatico in Pescara on Saturday.

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It seems as if there's been an exponential increase in clubs heading for the courts over unpaid tax or VAT bills this season. The answer to the question, "Accrington Stanleee, ‘oo are dey?" was "the League Two club that owe £308,000 to HMRC" until they found salvation the other week. And it feels like every other lower league Scottish club has been up before the tax beak in recent weeks.

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Is it such a shock that Southend United are facing the prospect of administration?
On the face of it, most definitely. But delve a little deeper and perhaps the answer will change.
For the first time in a long time, the Blues appeared to be moving in the right direction. Buoyed by a committed management team, the Shrimpers enjoyed their most successful period between 2003 and 2008, with meagre resources. Click to continue reading...

I'm sitting in a hotel in Addis Ababa - the Ethiopian capital. For the past 72 hours, I've had no internet access and very little idea of what was happening back home. I'm here on a nine day work trip and things have been going well - thanks for asking. There's part of me that wished I'd never logged on tonight, because what I've just seen has made me very upset. Click to continue reading...

Lee Barnard scored twice as Southend United halted their losing streak to beat Stockport at Edgeley Park.
In a game played in high winds and on a bobbly pitch, both sides failed to assert their authority in the first half. Franck Moussa had a couple of chances but was thwarted on each occasion. Click to continue reading...

Southend United lost for the second time in just four days, after two second half penalties handed all three points to Brentford at Griffin Park.
The Blues had taken the lead on 9 minutes in bizarre fashion, when Simon Francis' free kick was mis-handled by the home 'keeper who bundled it over his own line. Click to continue reading...

Southend United slipped to their second league defeat of the season after a 76th minute penalty, for the visitors, settled the game.
The Blues were poor throughout and, after the game, manager Steve Tilson said the Shrimpers deserved to lose.
Pawel Abbott's spot kick, after loanee George Friend was adjudged to have fouled Keigan Parker in the box, was well struck and left Steve Mildenhall no chance. Click to continue reading...

Francis Laurent's injury time strike gave Southend all three points after an exciting encounter at the Withdean Stadium.
The Blues took the lead on 8 minutes, when Lee Barnard angled a header into the net from a Simon Francis cross. It was his eighth goal of the season.
The home side equalised through another in-form striker, Nicky Forster, on 21. Click to continue reading...

Southend United ended their visitors' 100% record in League One but it could have been even better for the Blues had Lee Barnard's penalty not been superbly saved by Leeds 'keeper Shane Higgs.
In a tense and tightly fought battle at Roots Hall, both sides failed to find an opening in the first half. Click to continue reading...

Southend United Chief Executive Geoffrey King has strongly defended his statement about striker Alex Revell during the club's Annual General Meeting this evening (Thurs).
On two seperate occasions Mr King was asked whether he would apologise for these comments he made on Tuesday, following the departure of Revell on loan to Swindon:
"Alex Revell has failed to live up to expectations. Click to continue reading...

The men running League One strugglers Southend United will come under 'intense' scrutiny at the Blues' Annual General Meeting tonight (Thursday), amidst growing unrest from fans.
On Tuesday the Shrimpers decided to offload two players - Alex Revell (aboved) and Kevin Betsy (below) - on loan deals to Swindon and Wycombe respectively. Click to continue reading...

Southend United slipped to their first league defeat of the season at the County Ground, and saw Jean Francois Christophe sent off in the first half for a second bookable offence.
Swindon took the lead through Scott Cuthbert on 20 minutes after the Blues failed to clear their lines following a free kick. Click to continue reading...

Carling Cup Round Two
Southend United suffered their first defeat of the season as they went down 3-1 to Premier League side Hull City at the K C Stadium.
The home side took the lead through Tom Cairney on 7 minutes. They doubled their advantage with three minutes of the first half remaining when Jozy Altidore scored a cracking debut goal. Click to continue reading...

Southend United drew their third consecutive league match as the Shrimpers came from behind to secure a point in Buckinghamshire.
Ex-Blues' misfit Matt Harrold ironically gave the home side the lead on 40 minutes when his diving header beat Steve Mildenhall.
But Southend hit back just before the break when Jean Francois-Christophe opened his account for the season when Simon Francis' cross was converted by the Frenchman's head from close range. Click to continue reading...

So it all gets underway again for another season on Saturday when Southend United take on Huddersfield in the League One opener at Roots Hall.
For the average Blues fan, the summer has been frustrating to say the least. Just after last season's campaign finished, chairman Ron Martin said the Blues would be aiming to make quicker signings, giving new players the time to bed-in before the 09/10 season started. Click to continue reading...

Southend United's under 18 squad are gearing up for Sunday's Toomey Trophy final against Premier League side Everton, after beating Arsenal's youth side 1-0 at Roots Hall on Saturday (25th July).
The Blues are taking part in the inaugural competition - a small weekend-long event that's attracted another Premier League youth side - Fulham to Roots Hall. Click to continue reading...

As featured on Longpier last week, an unique charity football match took place on Saturday in Prittlewell.
The 'Sunrise to Sunset' match lasted 15 hours and raised a staggering amount of money for the Angelina Our Star charity.
Mark Rothman, who helped to organise the mammoth event has written this report for longpier. Click to continue reading...

Welcome to the first in a new weekly series in which longpier takes a local look at the week gone by. Â I've come up with a working title of Newsblitz Southend. Â It may just work.
Award for most extraordinary story of the week must go to Mark Norton and the Echo. Â The 'Gun siege fugitive' (as the Echo described him) somehow managed to escape the clutches of police following a three hour siege at his mother's house in Elm Road, Shoebury on Good Friday. Click to continue reading...

Southend broke their Orient jinx and exacted revenge for their Johnstone's Paint trophy defeat to their rivals earlier in the month, with a comprehensive victory at Roots Hall tonight.
The Blues went ahead after just 47 seconds when Lee Barnard scored his third goal of the season following a good move. Click to continue reading...

Southend United threw away the full three points as Millwall rescued a point with an injury time goal.
Alex Revell scored after 7 minutes but Ahmet Brkovic equalised two minutes into stoppage time.
The Blues made the perfect start when Dan Harding's free kick was misjudged by home 'keeper David Forde. Click to continue reading...

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A tale of contrasts: Shabbaz Baidoo and Paul Furlong
Shabbaz Baidoo Trialing at non-league Lewes. Sill only 20, Baidoo has gone a long way since signing a new contract with QPR a couple of years ago, after talk of a Premiership transfer. Click to continue reading...

It's been a busy period for Southend United and longpier over the past week. Lots of news coming out of Roots Hall - details are below. Also we've been testing the new LONGPIER LIVE Skypecast - a new, easy and FREE interactive discussion show, starting on the first day of the new season. If you haven't seen the details click here and have your say on Southend's season. Click to continue reading...

Southend United misfit Richie Foran could finally be on his way out of Roots Hall. longpier understands Carlisle manager John Ward is set to bid £50,000 for the winger-cum-striker.
Allegations about Foran's private life are said to have hindered his progress at the Blues. Click to continue reading...

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On QPR Italia Blog, QPR's new signing, Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma interviewed speaking about Genoa, Italian football and QPR: Intervista a Ledesma: "Al QPR col Genoa nel cuore" and a Web translation
PFA's Give Me Football/Mark Shail - Q&A WitH Paul Furlong
He may be turning 40 in October, but new Southend signing Paul Furlong says he still has the hunger and desire to be a success at Roots Hall. Click to continue reading...

Within the last hour, Southend United have made the shock decision to transfer list Peter Clarke, Simon Francis and player of the year Nicky Bailey.
It means Southend have now either transfer listed or not renewed the contract of 12 players.
Chairman Ron Martin says he will not be held to ransom by the players or their agents. Click to continue reading...

Southend United have rejected an undisclosed bid from Motherwell to re-sign Steven Hammell and chairman Ron Martin has insisted the defender is not for sale.
The 25-year-old left Fir Park to join the Shrimpers in June 2006 and Motherwell boss Mark McGhee is keen to lure him back to the club. Click to continue reading...

No festive cheer in the north of England for Southend as three set-pieces undid the visitors.
Charlie MacDonald did score for the Blues to level the game at 1-1 but two more first half goals effectively sealed the game in the opening 45 minutes.
Sadly longpier thinks this result confirms what most Shrimpers fans feared - that the squad isn't good enough to mount a challenge to return to the Championship at the first time of asking. Click to continue reading...

Tale of two halves as Blues fail to capitalise
I love football cliches - and there's no better than "a game of two halves". And the game was certainly that. On Saturday the Blues were absolutely dreadful in the opening 45 minutes, but then fought back to gain a draw against the league's bottom team.
Again the Blues started with purpose, giving Dean Morgan a first start, just hours after he signed on loan from Luton Town. Click to continue reading...

Blues fail to convince, but scrape by
Southend progressed to the second round of the FA Cup but they were far from convincing as they edged past League Two side Rochdale.
The home side had a great start, with Nicky Bailey scoring in the first minute. His header from Steve Hammell's cross beat the visiting 'keeper in just 22 seconds. Click to continue reading...

Dodgy decisions and suicidal defending costs Blues

Dear oh dear, oh dear. Southend just cannot beat the sides around them. Another defeat at the hands of promotion rivals will do nothing for the Blues' confidence.
Add to this the wrongful dismissal of Leon Clarke half way through the second half and the Blues will look back on this City Ground encounter with disdain. Click to continue reading...

Jol's cloud moves east

Former Spurs manager Martin Jol was at Roots Hall today. No-one knows why for sure. Jol was sacked, along with his assistant Chris Houghton on Thursday - just before they took charge of their last game against Getafe in the UEFA Cup. Houghton is a good friend of Steve Tilson's. Rumours started to fly around the east stand - from the outlandish "Jol to replace Tilly when he leaves for Norwich", to "Houghton's eyeing up a managerial role here" to "well maybe Jol just fancied watching some real football". Click to continue reading...

Stroll in the park restores league momentum

Southend crusied to a 3-0 victory at Roots Hall thanks to goals from Nicky Bailey, Gary Hooper and a Leon Clarke penalty.
The home side never looked in difficulty and it the scoreline could have been worse for Crewe in all fairness.
Southend completely dominated both halves of play and went ahead thanks to a 20 yard curling effort from Nicky Bailey on 17. Click to continue reading...

Southend made it 4 league wins on the trot with prolific loan striker Leon Clarke scoring his fourth in as many games, and the seemingly equally prolific midfielder Alan McCormack also bagging another goal.
It was a nervy finish but the Blues held on for all three points, which moves them up into 3rd in League One.
More follows. Click to continue reading...

The second of the games I missed (hey, it was a well needed holiday!) was a five-goal thriller against Doncaster at Roots Hall on Saturday.
Leon Clarke scored his third in as many games, with Adam Barrett and Alan McCormack bagging the other goals. It moves the Blues up to 5th position. All of a sudden, things are looking good.
The Blues go to Blackpool in the third round of the Carling Cup tomorrow, which is the same day as the public inquiry into the new stadium starts at the Civic Centre in Southend. Click to continue reading...

I was away for two games - more about that later this week. But firstly the Blues went to Oldham and claimed all three points, thanks to a Leon Clarke goal.
Here is the report from The Little Gazette Click to continue reading...