Southend United Football Club (SUFC) has been given the green light to proceed with the phased development of a new 14,000-seat stadium at Fossetts Farm, Essex.

A specially-convened meeting of Southend Borough Council's (SBC) development control committee approved the club's revised plans for the scheme. Having originally planned a new 22,000-seat venue, SUFC has now secured permission for a three-sided stadium that will comprise a total of 13,942 seats without a West Stand.

A spokesperson for the npower League Two club said: "It is unquestionably the Club's intention to build a stadium to the specification that was originally granted planning permission. "However, the difficult economic times the country finds itself in means we are sensibly making the necessary provisions to provide flexibility and ensure the development progresses."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that SUFC has been issued with another winding up petition by HM Revenue and Customs. According to the BBC, the club is due to appear in the High Court on 16 March over an unpaid tax bill estimated to be worth £20,000.