CONCERNED Southend United supporters gathered outside the Civic Centre tonight seeking answers over the future of the Shrimpers.

Frustrated fans are still waiting for Southend City Council to complete their due diligence over housing contracts needed for the consortium to complete their takeover.

Blues followers are starting to lose patience as they continue to fear for the club.

Speaking outside the Civic Centre, Shrimpers fan Tom Gibson said: “It’s not surprising but it is disappointing.

“We’ve come down to the council tonight because there seems to have been a hold-up on the due diligence side of things.

“We’ve got three demands.

“We want to know if a deadline has been set for the due diligence to be completed and if so when.

“If there is no deadline then why not and what’s the cost for the taxpayer while this is going on?

“We want to get answers, we’ll go to the meeting and hopefully be able to talk to one or two of them after if possible.”

The consortium, headed up by Justin Rees, exchanged contracts with Blues’ controversial chairman Ron Martin for the sale of the club back in December but have yet to officially take charge.

The consortium funded the Shrimpers throughout the second half of the season and have now pumped £3.4million into the club without actually owning it.

However, a winding up petition, issued by Stewarts Law, was adjourned for six weeks on Wednesday while it has since been confirmed the club have been placed in another transfer embargo.

Bradd Cummins was another fan to attend the Civic Centre wanting to know what was happening.

“The club means so much to so many people and it’s hard to take when its future has been in doubt for so long,” said Cummins.

“We know it takes time but it’s been ages now and news of a transfer embargo was another stark reminder of how bad things still are really.”

The council has consistently repeated it is doing all it can to complete due diligence.