Southend winding-up hearing adjourned for 28 days

Southend United's winding-up hearing at the High Court has been adjourned for 28 days.

The League One club, who paid an outstanding tax bill of more than £2.1m just three months ago, were due to face a ruling on their future on Wednesday.

Despite paying Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in November, HMRC are claiming a further debt of £205,000.

Southend say the new bill has not been settled because they claim the original £2.1m was overpaid by £200,000.

"This will hopefully be settled in the club's favour," a club statement had said on Tuesday.

"Supporters are aware that, following the payment of £2.15m to HMRC in November and on analysis of the sums, the club disputed the amount paid by circa £200,000.

"This became the subject of further, we believe wholly unnecessary, action by HMRC with them serving a petition around Christmas and the club submitting an appeal to the Tribunals Service with a cross claim."