Maher’s delight as ban is lifted

By Matt Badcock

HAPPY: Kev Maher

SOUTHEND UNITED celebrated the lifting of their transfer embargo – by making their first permanent signing in over a year!

Shrimpers boss Kev Maher has moved quickly following news from the National League they are now free to sign players again.

It comes with the latest step forward in the club’s takeover by a consortium headed up by Australian businessman Justin Rees.

Contracts with outgoing owner Ron Martin were exchanged last weekend and this week’s talks with the league and HMRC reached a satisfactory conclusion to allow the long-standing embargo to be lifted.

Weston-super-Mare midfielder James Morton’s arrival on a twoand-a-half year deal was announced on Friday with the 24-year-old named on the bench for their clash with Barnet yesterday.

Morton, who has scored three goals for the National League South Seagulls this season, spent ten years with Bristol City during which he had three loan spells at Bath City.

“I’m over the moon,” Morton said. “Ever since the interest came up it was something that my wife and I were really open to, in terms of moving and living in the area.

“It’s a really exciting time with new ownership at the club and on the football side, and with the style of play the gaffer likes, everything just ticked a lot of boxes for me. I’m fortunate to be coming in at this time with everything moving in the right direction.”

Boss Maher has also been able to hand out three contracts to key squad members who had been playing non-contract this season.

Captain Nathan Ralph, Jack Bridge and long-serving Jason Demetriou, who is also first-team coach, have all penned new deals.

Maher said: “Their commitment to the club has been first class.”