RELEGATION from League One is likely to cost Southend United £1million.

Blues will be back in League Two next term after enduring a season of struggle.

And football finance expert Kieran Maguire predicts it will hit the Shrimpers hard. 

"The TV money is probably worth £500,000 alone," said Maguire.

"I had a long chat with (Tranmere chairman) Mark Palios about this too.

"If you look at the clubs in League One, you have Portsmouth, Sunderland, Ipswich and some pretty big teams who will always fill the away end.

"In terms of ticket sales it will be a loss in League Two and the sponsorship deals are obviously linked to the division in which you play as well.

"Put all that together, you’re probably talking £1 million.

"That’s the broad amount for clubs going down from League One to League Two."

Southend are still waiting to find out when next season will start.

And the coronavirus pandemic is also making things extremely tough for clubs.

"Coronavirus is a crippling blow for lower League clubs too," said Maguire.

"They’re more reliant on turnstile incomes than the higher leagues because they don’t have such a lucrative TV deal."