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Businessmen plot to save Southend; club to pay £300k to stay in league, manager speaks out

A busy week sees businessmen plot to save Southend, the club are to pay £300k to stay in the league, and manager Kevin Maher speaks out.

The crisis club were given the go-ahead to pay football-related debts so they can remain in the National League for the 2023/24 season.

A specialist court heard that Southend had debts of £2.5m, about £300,000 of which is owed to football creditors, with a judge approving the payments that will allow the club to keep its licence.

Other creditors include HM Revenue and Customs which gave a winding-up petition against the club over a £275,000 tax debt.

The club has been given until the 23rd of August to pay the tax bill, or find a buyer, with reports on Thursday (20th July) claiming that a group of businessmen are in talks to try to save them.

The Echo state that at least five men are working hard in a bid to ensure Southend have a future, meeting in the city to work out their plan of motion.

A source close to the group said: “There is a group working collaboratively together to try and make it happen and all of them have the club’s best interests at heart.

“The group of people have a range of expertise with close connections to Southend.

“They are working together to try and make it happen and have the expertise that can support the rebirth of the football off the pitch and support it on it too.

“As everyone knows, from the statement already made by Kimura people want to collaborate.

“Negotiations by different parties have been ongoing for months with no clear progression.

“Goalposts have been moved time and time again but we’re hopeful of being able to achieve something.”

They remained anonymous, though disclosed that it includes representatives from Kimura, with the latter unable to complete a takeover of the club but said they’d link up with other ‘interested parties’.

Southend have appeared at courts a number of times in recent months, with an order being made in May to ensure their survival by allowing the payment of players and accountants.

Fans protested outside club chairman Ron Martin’s home last week and this week over fears the 117-year-old club could be shut down.

Kevin Maher finally got to see his side play a friendly, in which he praised his players after they ran out 4-1 winners over Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday.

Bishop’s Stortford went ahead inside two minutes, but Callum Powell and Jack Wood hat-trick hit back.

“We had the game during the week [against a West Ham side] which was a good building block to this against a more senior side.

“We started slowly by giving the goal away but off the back of that, the response and the quality of the football was very very good. It was pleasing to get good minutes into a lot of the players.”

On Wood, Maher added: “I’m delighted for him. Any time he’s in and around the final third he wants to shoot and wants to score.

“He got three goals with his right foot today which is unusual because he’s predominantly left-footed. We know it’s only pre-season but that’ll do his confidence the world of good.”

“We haven’t played competitively in a long long time and we’re behind in pre-season, that goes without saying. Credit to the players.

“There are going to be mistakes, but the lads regained their composure after the first goal very quickly and were clinical in the right areas.”

Maher was questioned about how much tougher a pre-season this has been given the circumstances.

“It’s been incredibly difficult.

“The players want to play football, I’m sure the fans want to watch it and that’s what a football club is. We want to focus on football and the prime focus should be on that, but with stuff going on it’s been difficult. The players have brilliant though, I can’t speak highly enough of them. To go and play the way they did today, I can’t praise them any more.”

“We know we’re behind with our pre-season and you might have expected them to be a long way off.

“Look, who knows what will happen but that effort and application out there today.”

Harry Cardwell was left out of the squad, and Jack Bridge went off just before the break with a knock.

Maher adds: “Cards had a tight hip flexor in training yesterday [Friday], so it wasn’t worth the risk of putting him out there. Hopefully in a couple of days he’ll be okay.

“[Bridgey]’s got a boot on his ankle. He’s rolled it after he’s gone up for a header. We’ll have to see how it settles down, fingers crossed.”

A statement from join supporters group said: “The supporters’ groups of Southend United FC note the contents of media reports that the club’s bank account has been unfrozen to enable payments to football creditors.

“Despite this, we continue to harbour serious concerns for the future under the current ownership.

“Yesterday’s news is welcome in that it may prevent our club being expelled from the National League, but it is merely a sticking plaster and Southend United FC remains in a vicious circle of late payments, court appearances and sanctions with Ron Martin at the helm.

“With the HMRC debt under the existing Winding-Up Petition remaining unpaid, we call upon Ron Martin to provide a clear indication of when this can be expected to be cleared and what sanctions against the Club remain in place under an embargo.

“The football department can only properly begin their preparations for next season, which have been further hindered by the postponement of the Roots Hall friendly against AFC Wimbledon on 29th July, once this matter is resolved.

“Our thoughts continue to be directed towards the club’s staff.

“Urgent clarification is required for them about when they can expect their salaries to be brought up-to-date, and anyone that continues to be affected can make contact with the Shrimpers Trust in the strictest confidence to make an application to our hardship fund.

“Ron Martin should, frankly, feel a sense of profound shame that the owner of one of our divisional rivals, Matt Uggla of York City, with a significant personal donation to the fund, seemingly cares more for his staff than he does.

“As a result of the continued uncertainty surrounding the club, we can confirm that the plans announced earlier this week for a lawful and responsible protest in Benfleet from 11:00am-2:00pm on Saturday 22nd July remain in place. We encourage supporters to make their voices heard.

“During the course of the past week the Shrimpers Trust, backed by the other supporters’ groups, has been liaising with key stakeholders – including Southend City Council and local MPs, who share our concerns – to attempt to safeguard the future of our club.

“That work will continue.

“We believe Southend United’s interests are best-served with supporter involvement at the core.

“We urge Ron Martin to engage in a meaningful and expedient sale process and reiterate our desire to speak with any interested buyers.”

Fans reacted as businessmen plot to save Southend; the club to pay £300k to stay in the league, and manager Kevin Maher speaks out…

@PhilipHood19: Strong statement which highlights key details of fact as well as the moral dimension. The last week has shown clearly the contrast between true football communities and one desperately selfish person. Shame is absolutely the right label.

@NicaraguaVisit: Really proud of our boys… they play their heart out for Kev and his team. We have lots of promise in this team. Let’s hope off field issues get sorted soon.

@djmikejolly: Considering the circumstances it’s incredible that we can still field such a strong side. There’s not a player there who you can’t rely on to give 100% for the shirt and the fans. Despite it all we’re so lucky to have this bunch, led by the mighty @kevlaa7 & co. COYB! #MartinOut

@JamesRBeattie: Keep fighting peeps! #MartinOut

@andyhill9: As usual the 🐀 came up with the 💰 at the 11hr . Quicker someone comes in buys this crook out the better. #MartinOut

@foreverblue901: As an outsider looking in, sounds like this is really positive. Important that Southend stay in the league in order to make it saleable. Good Luck.

@RutlandShrimper: This seems like good news and somehow RM has found quarter of a million? I’ll take this a a positive In a quagmire or negatives.

 

@Gmski: Lawd knows how we keep surviving. It’s good news but those heavy financial worries are blocking any real progress.

@groningooner: About time there was a little ray of sunshine. Fingers crossed Roots Hall can be put back together in time now 🤞

@RichieRich25: Really hoping this is true and Southend are saved….and if so, we (Oldham) will be there in force on the 05th to celebrate proper football with you. And btw, if you get a new owner half as good as ours you will be very happy!

@lydylyd: This sounds hopeful and positive.

@JB_Allen: My assumption is a that an offer would realistically need to be put into today, if we’re working off the amount of meetings and the potential deadline being ever so extremely close.

@stevejsmith1966: And so the rollercoaster rolls on

@LeePerry40: They must push RM to the limit tomorrow until he realise he has no choice but to accept their offer and walk away, it’s will do Ron an massive favour as he would face hells if deal wasn’t done and we get thrown out of NL & closed down like Bury & Macclesfield before us.

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