Southend United should be able to start signing players to their threadbare squad this week after an HM Revenue & Custom’s administration petition was yesterday dismissed at the High Court.

SOUTHEND United should be able to start signing players to their threadbare squad this week after an HM Revenue & Custom’s administration petition was yesterday dismissed at the High Court.

With supermarket chain Sainsburys now partnered with the club, Southend have proved they are able to meet all current liabilities as well as future debts.

Shrimpers chairman Ron Martin said: “We anticipated that we would reach a satisfactory outcome and now can move on. The next phase is to now start construction of the new stadium.

“We have worked out the finer details with the Football League to remove the transfer embargo currently in place on the club.”

The newly-relegated club are currently heading into the League Two season with just a handful of contracted players having been forced to release the majority of their squad over the summer. New manager Paul Sturrock has a number of players lined up on pre-contract agreements though ahead of their season opener against Stockport on Saturday.