Kevin Maher, Darren Currie and Mark Bentley sign new Southend United contracts

Kevin Maher has guided Southend to a mid-table position despite problems off the pitch

Southend head coach Kevin Maher has signed a new "long-term" contract, the National League club have announced.

Maher's assistant Darren Currie and first-team coach Mark Bentley have also signed new deals.

The news comes days after contracts were exchanged for a consortium headed by Australian Justin Rees to complete a takeover, ending the 25-year tenure of owner Ron Martin.

Southend have endured financial problems for a number of years.

The club has been the subject of several winding-up petitions and this season had 10 points deducted for failing to clear their debts, said to total £2.5m.

A transfer embargo and injuries meant Maher only had enough available players to name a single substitute for the game against Bromley on 16 December.

Maher, 47, has said recent months have been "draining like you wouldn't believe" - but the expected takeover has offered hope of a brighter future.

Southend have been as high as the second tier of English football in their history and their former managers include England's World Cup-winning captain, the late Bobby Moore, who was in charge for more than two years during the 1980s.

The club were relegated from the English Football League in 2021 and last season finished eighth and missed out on the National League play-offs.