Southend boss Steve Tilson insists his side now have a huge weight off their shoulders despite the 3-0 FA Cup defeat at Gillingham.

The club narrowly avoided going into administration this week over a tax bill in-excess of £2million and Tilson is hoping to rebuild his fragile squad.

He said: "Now the tax bill has been paid off we need to move on and get some new players in this week because we have a makeshift side at the moment.

"We are a young side and when things aren't going for you it's difficult.

"We were playing for pride and, to be honest, we had as many chances as them but they took theirs and we didn't.

"We were just a little bit naive and that cost us but that's football - the two goals in quick succession were a body blow."