Jeff Stelling urges Jim White to speak as Southend players stop training over unpaid wages

Jeff Stelling urges Jim White to speak as Southend players stop training over unpaid wages, yet the situation isn’t making mainstream media.

Chris Phillips of Echo News, revealed that majority of the National League side’s players are still waiting to pick up their salaries for June when they should have received it on Friday.

Majority of the squad and full-time office staff haven’t been paid and the situation turns increasingly worrying, so much so that talks are being had with pre-season training paused.

Phillips’ report adds that some of the staff have not been given any of their salaries for the past three months while members of Maher’s backroom team have not been paid for two.

Southend were placed under a transfer embargo in September, can’t sign anyone, players are leaving for other clubs in order to feed their families.

The Kimura group are still reportedly in talks to buy the club yet at a slow pace after initially hyping up a deal being close only for it to now drag on.

Meanwhile, after talking, players chose not to train on Monday but will keep their fitness up, just away from the club while also thinking over their future with Southend.

The story caught the attention of Jeff Stelling, who tweeted: “Desperately sad for all Shrimpers fans. Lived on the edge in recent years. Surely football is not just going to let them go the way of Bury? @JimWhite I have no outlet right now. Time for you to take up the fight.”

Southend United players stop pre-season training https://t.co/MSssIMh47g

— Chris Phillips (@CJPhillips1982) July 3, 2023

Desperately sad for all Shrimpers fans . Lived on the edge in recent years. Surely football is not just going to let them go the way of Bury ? @JimWhite I have no outlet right now. Time for you to take up the fight.

— Jeff Stelling (@JeffStelling) July 3, 2023

Here’s how fans are reacting as Jeff Stelling urges Jim White to speak and Southend players stop training over unpaid wages…

@CharlieMullard: Thank you Jeff, your one of the very few out there that feels our pain.Sadly though things are looking closer than ever before the final nail is put in the coffin. Ron Martin has stated time and time again he will not let the club be wound up and how much he ‘loves the club’. But with regular missed payments and dates with HMRC, has led us being in another embargo since September, and unable to keep key players, or sign anyone. Players rightly so walking out u till they see paid is something I fully support, something drastic needs to happen.. At the last hearing we was told that an agreement was made to unfreeze an account in order to pay bills and staff, if this was the case, where has that money gone, as backroom staff have not been paid for 3 months now and players also not being paid… with pre season due to commence next week, fear there will not be a team available, my understanding is that all the players who have not been paid are able to walk from the club as free agents, if this is the case due to our embargo then there is every chance we won’t have a squad

@djmikejolly: It’s over isn’t it – Canvey and HMRC away next week and then we’re done I think. Thanks Ron.

@shrimperjon: there you go, rumours over the weekend that this was going to happen and now it’s been confirmed. No blame towards Kev and the players at all. They’ve all had enough. The season starts in a month if we make it to that point. It’s shambolic and all one man’s fault @SUFCRootsHall. Would cancel those friendlies if I was you @CIFC and @BTFC more chance of us fans playing than the team. Don’t blame them they’ve all had enough as have us fans. Ron has ruined everything good about our club, it’s history, it’s reputation and it’s integrity. Take note @btsport@btsportfootball @JimWhite @talkSPORT @TheVanaramaNL @BBCSport our club is in crisis and all down to one person. Ron Martin. If ever we needed your support and coverage now is the time and help our great football club @SUFCRootsHall

@TomSalmon123: Fully support all players and staff striking if they haven’t been paid. Ron Martin needs pressure from all angles to get out of our club asap. As fans we need to be putting more pressure on Ron too. The longer he is in that seat, the worse our club will become.

@LewMills84: I hope this gets sorted and you can look to a fresh start. Not sure how people go without wages in any time for three months, let alone this one.

@DanDobisz: Every time you think it can’t get any worse, it does. I fully support the players but can’t help feeling that this is the end. #martinout

@robertkilcoyne3: The National League is due to publish its 2023/24 fixture list on Wednesday. It must now be very concerned that Southend United will not even be able to start the season, let alone complete it.

@TimHobden1: Time to dust down those Phoenix club plans.

@AdamAdammason16: As a Colchester even I’m uncomfortable with this surely something has to be done

@Marcustricky: Col u fan in peace. Seriously, this is a bad situation and one I have watched. I think it’s disgusting how you fans have been treated. As a football fan, this just shouldn’t be allowed to happen. Potentially, never another Essex derby which is actually sad for Essex football.

@Jmorro11: Can’t blame them. Fully justified. Let’s just pray the NL doesn’t throw the club out. HUGE few days ahead

@BigSmivz93: Good on them. Completely support their actions.

@sfield34: Enough is enough, please make it stop. The staff and players deserve so much better than this

@jb181076: I’m actually crying now. This is a sad way for a club, in fact any club, to end. I’ve kept the faith for so long, but now I think this is it.

@ParkLaneBlock40: Fully support the players but sadly feeling the end is rapidly approaching.

@JamesBurton90: What a horrible shambles. Feel for the people involved.

@kevinlowe12345: Good on them! None of us would continue to work if we weren’t getting paid! This has to continue until that cretin at the top is gone.

@V2Neco: Cannot put into word the anger and frustration, none of which towards the players, staff and any backroom workers who either strike or quit, fucking disgusting that scummy little freak is still on a tirade to destroy any remnants of respect that so few still had for him.

@LauraBlenes: So when the accounts were unfrozen to pay last month did they not get paid? Did that instruction not carry over to now? It was pending the takeover was it not, so surely the account should be open to be paying everyone. It’s absolutely disgusting that he thinks this is acceptable

@ChrisToop14: I’m sick to my stomach of martins abhorrent disrespect for our club, staff, players and us fans, it’s obvious he doesn’t give a toss now and hasn’t for a few years, and now players and staff will probably strike, our beloved club is crumbling bit by bit, cheers Ron 😡 💙 SUFC 💙