Southend have 'every chance' in play-offs - Rees

Gus Scott-Morriss has scored 17 goals for Southend this season

Southend United chairman Justin Rees says the club have "every chance to go all the way" after securing the final National League play-off spot.

The Shrimpers drew 0-0 with Gateshead to make sure of seventh place and now face a trip to Rochdale on 15 May - with the winners away to Forest Green Rovers in the semi-finals six days later, followed by a promotion final at Wembley on 1 June.

Australian businessman Rees headed the Custodian of Southend United (COSU) consortium which bought the club from former owner Ron Martin last summer.

And despite last week's announcement of a £2.65m loss for the year ended July 2023-24, he believes the club is moving in the right direction on and off the pitch.

"Everyone can recognise it's a good, proper football club with the community behind it, one of those one-club cities," he told BBC Essex.

"One of the things I love about Southend that attracted me to the project is it's small enough to feel like the local club you grew up with but big enough to dream of days at Wembley and championships.

"We've clearly got enough support behind us, and if we do things right, we should be able to move up divisions but [still be] small enough that we all feel connected and grounded."

About 1,700 Shrimpers fans - including Rees - made the round trip to the north east for Monday's game, with 1,000 more watching it on video at their Roots Hall ground.

"To have achieved the first key objective, well done to [head coach] Kevin [Maher] and the guys for persevering and ultimately getting us in those play-offs, because throughout the season that looked like a difficult first objective to me," he said.

"With the takeover completing so late in July as it did, everyone talks about how important pre-season is, and ours was quite disrupted on and off the pitch.

"We had a somewhat expected slow start as we recovered from that, then injuries hit us at the wrong time. But they built themselves back up, stayed focused and got themselves into a position where it was in their control.

"It was a very professional display; I think the players were a lot calmer than everyone in the crowd."

Rees will miss the Rochdale game because of a family commitment back in Australia and is relying on the team carrying on the good work so he can be there for the potential clash with Forest Green.

He said: "I think Kevin's got to stay grounded, but I don't think we do. Us fans can celebrate each win. Obviously, there are a few big games to go to reach the ultimate objective, but we'll enjoy each one as they come, and we've got every chance to go all the way.

"I don't think there's anyone particularly to fear, but then again, they've all got to be respected - there are a lot of good sides, and whoever comes through the other side will have done well to do so."

On the club's financial situation, Rees added: "The club wasn't saved on 19 July last year; that was just the first step of a multi-year process to truly save it, which is to fix its fortunes, broaden its revenue streams and then put it on a more stable footing.

"Until we make some structural changes, mainly investing in Roots Hall and other things, that is the state of play for the foreseeable future. The trend is heading in the right direction, but there's a bit of a way to go before we achieve those sorts of objectives."

Justin Rees was speaking to BBC Essex's Sonia Watson