DIEHARD football fans are calling others to back Southend United as the club faces pressure over refusing to issue refunds after cancelling games.

Bosses say they will not refund ticket prices, but are instead offering the chance for the cash to be donated for the club or it can be carried over to next year’s tickets.

This comes as some fans have written to the Echo to call for their money back as Covid-19 put a halt to games.

But Mike Davies, from Rayleigh Town Museum who has been a season ticket holder for 20 years, said: “I am also a share holder and don’t think I want a refund but I do not want it to go down as a donation.

I’d prefer my money went towards next year’s season ticket.”

Martin Terry, Southend councillor, has been a season ticket holder for more than 20 years and said: “I do not want a refund as I do not want to see the club go down.

“We have lost games and will renew my ticket.

“This is a consequence of the Covid-19 outbreak and people must look at the wider picture.”

A club spokesman said: “We are working closely with the EFL who are following guidelines from the Government and safety groups on when it is safe for fans to return to the stadium with October 1 the considered date at the moment.

“The season card package for the 20/21 season will include streaming opportunities for people to watch the game whilst crowds are not able to attend or for fans who feel unsure about returning, and with the season starting on September 12, we envisage this to be over a three-week period.”

The percentage of fans allowed in the stadium is still up for discussion and the club says it will be working closely with the authorities to ensure Roots Hall is safe for fans to return and to get back to watching live football once again.

They added: “The credit options available for fans following the 2019/20 season will allow supporters to purchase their season card at a discounted rate (pro-rata of what they paid) or keep the credit on their account for future games of their choice and we will be announcing season card details for the 2020/21 season in the coming weeks.

“We thank fans for their continued support and we look forward to welcoming them back into an environment they feel safe in to watch Southend United in the near future.”