New Southend United boss David Webb has delivered a critical verdict after assessing the Third Division club's excessive wage bill.

Webb only rejoined Blues on Monday, but has wasted no time in familiarising himself with the players' contracts, which were largely responsible for last season's crippling £1.5million payroll.

The Seasiders' outgoings are believed to have plummeted to around the £1m mark this year, but Webb admitted he was still far from happy with the current financial situation at the club.

"I was up until three o'clock in the morning the other night looking through the players' contracts and it made me feel ill," said Webb yesterday (Thursday).

"I don't know what's been happening here, but there's been no wage structure put in place.

"It's been a huge eye opener for me having come from Yeovil Town where I've put a team together for just £250,000. But Southend are living above the means of a Third Division club.

"They've invested a lot of money in the playing staff and for the level of cash that's been put in they should expect success. But the budget's gone, they've overspent and there's nothing left in the pot for a rainy day."

However, the Southend supremo said he would endeavour to put things right. In fact, Webb began his cost-cutting yesterday when he relieved kit manager John Threadgold of his duties.

"It's going to be a tough job, but I need to sort things out here," he added. "I've come back to Roots Hall to push Southend United beyond the boundaries we achieved the last time I was around, but there's a lot of hard work to be done first.

"The club is ill at the moment and I feel like I'm coming in as a surgeon who needs to urgently operate on his patient. There's certain bits I may need to cut out to make the patient well, but at the end of the day I need to get this football club back on its feet and successful again."

Finally, Webb spelt out he only wanted people at Roots Hall who were willing to give their all for Southend both on and off the pitch.

"Everybody at this club has to be here for the right reasons," he explained. "I want people to be here because they want to do their best for Southend United."

Blues are still taking bookings for Sunday's subsidised coach travel to Blackpool on 01702 304050. Seats are just £5 and Blackpool are offering a special £20 family admission to Bloomfield Road for two adults and two children.

The coaches will leave Roots Hall at 7.30am and make another stop at Basildon's Jolly Cricketers pub at 8am.

Blues owner Ron Martin said: "It would be great if we could get 1,000 fans up there to cheer on David and the team."

Critical - David Webb

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