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[Football] Southend United - media apathy?



Dick Swiveller

Well-known member
Sep 9, 2011
9,159
Seems amazing there is no national media coverage of this I can see. Southend facing a winding up order in court today.

 




Chicken Run

Member Since Jul 2003
NSC Patron
Jul 17, 2003
18,488
Valley of Hangleton
Seems amazing there is no national media coverage of this I can see. Southend facing a winding up order in court today.

I appreciate you probably don’t listen to talk sport but they had a good chat on their yesterday, apparently this is apx the 18th winding up order ffs
 






Lenny Rider

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2010
5,434
Seems amazing there is no national media coverage of this I can see. Southend facing a winding up order in court today.

Sad times, as was part of the Albion journey, August 2000 2.55pm 'Bring on the Champions', 3.50pm Kuipers you're off. ;) 5.05pm Micky nearly laid out Millard after a stupid question in the press conference.
 






drew

Drew
Oct 3, 2006
23,070
Burgess Hill
Feel sorry for the fans but they're likely not to attract a lot of attention as they're not even in the EFL! If you listen to Price of Football podcast you'd be aware the owner is always playing brinkmanship with winding up orders, effectively paying up on the steps to the courthouse!
 






Apr 9, 2020
59
Southend fan here.

Quite simply, we're f***d. Staff haven't been paid for four months, we're up to the eyeballs in HMRC debt and under an embargo since deep into last season. We're left with 13 players, all of whom were on strike until this week and cannot sign anyone until the debt is paid in full.

Our esteemed chairman originally sailed in 25 years ago with the sole intention to develop Roots Hall, make his family's legacy, and then sod off into the distance. Due to misfortune and gross incompetence, that still hasn't happened.

Martin purchased Southend and Roots Hall as one entity - but quickly sold Roots Hall to another of his companies, leasing it back to the club at nearly £500,000 PA - he's now called in this historical rent, despite owning both club and ground..

Martin hasn't put a penny into the club for a _long_ time - instead, he's siphoned money out for decades to support his failing property developments, taking out loan after loan - as well as finance from less than reputable sources - all secured against the club, and his web of companies.

He's lived a charmed life til now with historically low interest rates, hoping to get the Fossets Farm stadium development off the ground, get us out of Roots Hall, and make his fortune. But he's never managed it - blaming the council, NIMBYs, Covid, the fans, you name it, along the way. Never himself.

He's meddled with the Fossetts plans for years, the latest revision reducing the ground capacity from 21,000 to 16,000, packing in as many flats as possible into the new ground to further line his pockets.

But now with interest rates skyrocketing, he's f***d, and unable to service the debt until he can get the dream over the line, and so the sale has been forced on him.

There's been a credible party involved for months. They have performed extensive due diligence, with Martin dragging his heels with each request. DD has trawled up significant further debts. Said party revised their offer according to these debts weeks ago, making more than a fair and reasonable offer.

The offer has been on his table for weeks, which would mean a clean break, he can enjoy his retirement and secure his family's future. He's refused to accept the deal - instead stringing said party along whilst trying, and failing, to secure finance from other means to get his dream over the line so he can make his bigger nest egg.

Today is the lowest point in our 116 years. Rather than accept the offer on his desk, he's taken us right to the brink. Seconds away from being wound up, risking EVERYTHING while he desperately scrabbles for pennies so he can get the dream realised himself.

And let's not talk about the National League, who quite rightly will not let us compete until all footballing debts are paid. The adjournment is meaningless given we will have no league to play in, unless chairman ron has an epiphany, and realises he's hopelessly out of his depth.

Until any sale, or until we go bust, he hasn't and won't put a penny into the club.

If we survive, it will genuinely be a miracle.

I should add that all of the above is pure speculation and opinion, of course.
 
Last edited:


Chicken Run

Member Since Jul 2003
NSC Patron
Jul 17, 2003
18,488
Valley of Hangleton
Southend fan here.

Quite simply, we're f***d. Staff haven't been paid for four months, we're up to the eyeballs in HMRC debt and under an embargo since deep into last season. We're left with 13 players, all of whom were on strike until this week and cannot sign anyone until the debt is paid in full.

Our esteemed chairman originally sailed in 25 years ago with the sole intention to develop Roots Hall, make his family's legacy, and then sod off into the distance. Due to misfortune and gross incompetence, that still hasn't happened.

Martin purchased Southend and Roots Hall as one entity - but quickly sold Roots Hall to another of his companies, leasing it back to the club at nearly £500,000 PA - he's now called in this historical rent, despite owning both club and ground..

Martin hasn't put a penny into the club for a _long_ time - instead, he's siphoned money out for decades to support his failing property developments, taking out loan after loan - as well as finance from less than reputable sources - all secured against the club, and his web of companies.

He's lived a charmed life til now with historically low interest rates, hoping to get the Fossets Farm stadium development off the ground, get us out of Roots Hall, and make his fortune. But he's never managed it - blaming the council, NIMBYs, Covid, the fans, you name it, along the way. Never himself.

He's meddled with the Fossetts plans for years, the latest revision reducing the ground capacity from 21,000 to 16,000, packing in as many flats as possible into the new ground to further line his pockets.

But now with interest rates skyrocketing, he's f***d, and unable to service the debt until he can get the dream over the line, and so the sale has been forced on him.

There's been a credible party involved for months. They have performed extensive due diligence, with Martin dragging his heels with each request. DD has trawled up significant further debts. Said party revised their offer according to these debts weeks ago, making more than a fair and reasonable offer.

The offer has been on his table for weeks, which would mean a clean break, he can enjoy his retirement and secure his family's future. He's refused to accept the deal - instead stringing said party along whilst trying, and failing, to secure finance from other means to get his dream over the line so he can make his bigger nest egg.

Today is the lowest point in our 116 years. Rather than accept the offer on his desk, he's taken us right to the brink. Seconds away from being wound up, risking EVERYTHING while he desperately scrabbles for pennies so he can get the dream realised himself.

And let's not talk about the National League, who quite rightly will not let us compete until all footballing debts are paid. The adjournment is meaningless given we will have no league to play in, unless chairman ron has an epiphany, and realises he's hopelessly out of his depth.

Until any sale, or until we go bust, he hasn't and won't put a penny into the club.

If we survive, it will genuinely be a miracle.
This is truly shocking, and I’m not sure what to say really except maybe you haven’t reached the very rock bottom yet to start your bounce back, for me at least it feels like only yesterday that I enjoyed an away day to SEOS, on one such trip many of us so called loyal fans stayed in the strip joint on the seafront and gave the footy a miss😂
 


Neville's Breakfast

Well-known member
May 1, 2016
13,423
Oxton, Birkenhead
Southend fan here.

Quite simply, we're f***d. Staff haven't been paid for four months, we're up to the eyeballs in HMRC debt and under an embargo since deep into last season. We're left with 13 players, all of whom were on strike until this week and cannot sign anyone until the debt is paid in full.

Our esteemed chairman originally sailed in 25 years ago with the sole intention to develop Roots Hall, make his family's legacy, and then sod off into the distance. Due to misfortune and gross incompetence, that still hasn't happened.

Martin purchased Southend and Roots Hall as one entity - but quickly sold Roots Hall to another of his companies, leasing it back to the club at nearly £500,000 PA - he's now called in this historical rent, despite owning both club and ground..

Martin hasn't put a penny into the club for a _long_ time - instead, he's siphoned money out for decades to support his failing property developments, taking out loan after loan - as well as finance from less than reputable sources - all secured against the club, and his web of companies.

He's lived a charmed life til now with historically low interest rates, hoping to get the Fossets Farm stadium development off the ground, get us out of Roots Hall, and make his fortune. But he's never managed it - blaming the council, NIMBYs, Covid, the fans, you name it, along the way. Never himself.

He's meddled with the Fossetts plans for years, the latest revision reducing the ground capacity from 21,000 to 16,000, packing in as many flats as possible into the new ground to further line his pockets.

But now with interest rates skyrocketing, he's f***d, and unable to service the debt until he can get the dream over the line, and so the sale has been forced on him.

There's been a credible party involved for months. They have performed extensive due diligence, with Martin dragging his heels with each request. DD has trawled up significant further debts. Said party revised their offer according to these debts weeks ago, making more than a fair and reasonable offer.

The offer has been on his table for weeks, which would mean a clean break, he can enjoy his retirement and secure his family's future. He's refused to accept the deal - instead stringing said party along whilst trying, and failing, to secure finance from other means to get his dream over the line so he can make his bigger nest egg.

Today is the lowest point in our 116 years. Rather than accept the offer on his desk, he's taken us right to the brink. Seconds away from being wound up, risking EVERYTHING while he desperately scrabbles for pennies so he can get the dream realised himself.

And let's not talk about the National League, who quite rightly will not let us compete until all footballing debts are paid. The adjournment is meaningless given we will have no league to play in, unless chairman ron has an epiphany, and realises he's hopelessly out of his depth.

Until any sale, or until we go bust, he hasn't and won't put a penny into the club.

If we survive, it will genuinely be a miracle.
Goodness, that sounds like a familiar story. I’ve had a few enjoyable away days at your place and not entirely without incident. Would it be better if you went bust and re-formed ? Presumably the owner would lose his investment and you would have AFC Southend to support at any level.
 




Apr 1, 2007
2,501
Saltdean
Southend fan here.

Quite simply, we're f***d. Staff haven't been paid for four months, we're up to the eyeballs in HMRC debt and under an embargo since deep into last season. We're left with 13 players, all of whom were on strike until this week and cannot sign anyone until the debt is paid in full.

Our esteemed chairman originally sailed in 25 years ago with the sole intention to develop Roots Hall, make his family's legacy, and then sod off into the distance. Due to misfortune and gross incompetence, that still hasn't happened.

Martin purchased Southend and Roots Hall as one entity - but quickly sold Roots Hall to another of his companies, leasing it back to the club at nearly £500,000 PA - he's now called in this historical rent, despite owning both club and ground..

Martin hasn't put a penny into the club for a _long_ time - instead, he's siphoned money out for decades to support his failing property developments, taking out loan after loan - as well as finance from less than reputable sources - all secured against the club, and his web of companies.

He's lived a charmed life til now with historically low interest rates, hoping to get the Fossets Farm stadium development off the ground, get us out of Roots Hall, and make his fortune. But he's never managed it - blaming the council, NIMBYs, Covid, the fans, you name it, along the way. Never himself.

He's meddled with the Fossetts plans for years, the latest revision reducing the ground capacity from 21,000 to 16,000, packing in as many flats as possible into the new ground to further line his pockets.

But now with interest rates skyrocketing, he's f***d, and unable to service the debt until he can get the dream over the line, and so the sale has been forced on him.

There's been a credible party involved for months. They have performed extensive due diligence, with Martin dragging his heels with each request. DD has trawled up significant further debts. Said party revised their offer according to these debts weeks ago, making more than a fair and reasonable offer.

The offer has been on his table for weeks, which would mean a clean break, he can enjoy his retirement and secure his family's future. He's refused to accept the deal - instead stringing said party along whilst trying, and failing, to secure finance from other means to get his dream over the line so he can make his bigger nest egg.

Today is the lowest point in our 116 years. Rather than accept the offer on his desk, he's taken us right to the brink. Seconds away from being wound up, risking EVERYTHING while he desperately scrabbles for pennies so he can get the dream realised himself.

And let's not talk about the National League, who quite rightly will not let us compete until all footballing debts are paid. The adjournment is meaningless given we will have no league to play in, unless chairman ron has an epiphany, and realises he's hopelessly out of his depth.

Until any sale, or until we go bust, he hasn't and won't put a penny into the club.

If we survive, it will genuinely be a miracle.
I grew up just down the road from Hockley and spent my first 10 years of football watching supporting Southend...

The 0-0 v Liverpool in the '79 FA Cup still the greatest match I've seen live...

This is shocking and wish you and the fans all the luck you need to get rid of this clown 'running' the club
 


Easy 10

Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Jul 5, 2003
61,775
Location Location
Sounds to me like Southend Utd needs to go into administration. Take the points hit (do they do that in the National League ?), get all their debts burned a-la Palace (x2), and then emerge with new owners and a fresh start. Especially if they've already got a buyer waiting in the wings.
 


Guinness Boy

Tofu eating wokerati
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Jul 23, 2003
34,211
Up and Coming Sunny Portslade
Sad times, as was part of the Albion journey, August 2000 2.55pm 'Bring on the Champions', 3.50pm Kuipers you're off. ;) 5.05pm Micky nearly laid out Millard after a stupid question in the press conference.
Was there for that one, while our game in 87/88 was my first away game. As others have said, never without incident but I have a lot more time for the likes of Southend than I have for Man U or Chelsea.
 


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