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Southend boss speaks out on off-field issues as latest club statement leaves fans frustrated

Southend United boss Kevin Maher speaks out on off-field issues as the latest club statement leaves fans rather frustrated.

The National League club have had their latest winding-up petition from HM Revenues and Customs adjourned until the 18th of January.

Southend confirmed the adjournment in a short statement, but have not commented on the issue since first addressing it to supporters on the 1st of October.

Supporters group, the Shrimpers Trust, said: “The Shrimpers Trust notes the decision of the High Court to adjourn the winding-up petition served upon Southend United Football Club by HM Revenue & Customs.

“Whilst progress on the field in 2022/23 has exceeded the expectations of many supporters following a difficult start to life in the National League last season, it is disappointing that the hard work undertaken continues to be undermined by financial issues away from the pitch.

“The decision today means a dark cloud will continue to hover over Roots Hall and the people that inhabit the stadium, the club offices and the training ground for another 56 days. It amounts to a stay of execution.

“Club Chair Ron Martin has less than two months to make good on his promise to the authorities and deliver in the same way the recruitment team, the coaching staff, the players and the unsung heroes behind the scenes have continued to do during a challenging period.

“We appreciate times are tough and the club is faced with significant cashflow issues. We know that work has already started on a new training ground and the dream of constructing a new stadium appears closer than ever.

“But the dream will remain just that if there is no football club in Southend-on-Sea for us to unite behind. We expect better from the Club Chair; no more excuses, no more delays. Own your responsibility and sort out the mess that threatens the very existence of Southend United FC.

“We have been liaising with Ron Martin and Tom Lawrence more so than normal over the last 14 days for obvious reasons and whilst the outcome of the petition was not unexpected, it is clear that clarification of financial commitments for the November payroll and of course the HMRC debt need to be forthcoming immediately and we look forward to hearing from them.”

Southend, currently enduring a second season in the National League after being relegated from League Two in 2021, are sixth in the table after holding leaders Notts County to a 2-2 draw on Tuesday.

Southend chairman Ron Martin addressed fans in a statement in early October saying the club missed a payment under its time to pay arrangement (TTP) – an agreement that allows debt to be paid back in monthly instalments – with HMRC.

The agreement had been cancelled as a result, leading to the winding-up petition and frustration among supporters.

“Whilst progress on the field in 2022-23 has exceeded the expectations of many supporters following a difficult start to life in the National League last season, it is disappointing that the hard work undertaken continues to be undermined by financial issues away from the pitch,” the Trust statement said.

“We appreciate times are tough and the club is faced with significant cashflow issues. We know that work has already started on a new training ground and the dream of constructing a new stadium appears closer than ever.

“But the dream will remain just that if there is no football club in Southend-on-Sea for us to unite behind. We expect better from the club chair; no more excuses, no more delays. Own your responsibility and sort out the mess that threatens the very existence of Southend United FC.”

Southend boss Kevin Maher said he is keeping his focus on the pitch but cannot ignore what is happening off it.

“You can’t ignore it because it’s there,” said Maher.

“It’s difficult and it’s difficult in terms of the staff who are brilliant around the club.

“They’re incredible right throughout the departments.

“There’s stuff we have to deal with that’s part and parcel of Southend.

“The work the staff do is second to none.

“When we go out onto the pitch we’re playing for them and there’s togetherness around the club which helps.

“There’s stuff we can’t control and that I can’t control but what we can try and control is what happens on the pitch.

“All credit to the players and staff because that’s been going ever so well.”

This is how social media users reacted as the Southend boss speaks out on off-field issues as the latest club statement leaves fans frustrated…

@Davewyatt19: Sounds like RM [Ron Martin] has dug a bigger hole than ever before really concerned for the structure of the club and the excellent personnel we have Makes John stills job impossible makes stans job impossible and leaves Tom laurence with a ethical dilemma as he is a member of the law society

@Greggie_Griff: #MartinOut

@shrimperjon: Another 56 days of embargo 😡😡😡

@ShaunMalone1997: So how long do we stay under embargo for now? Ron has to go

@jmpschooley: Not good enough. Transparency needed. Why couldn’t you get the funds in place? How long’s the adjournment? Can you guarantee you’ll have the money in place at the rearranged hearing? Where’s the money coming from? How many more times are you gonna play Russian roulette with SUFC?

@DanDobisz: So under embargo for months not weeks then.

@antsk: Playing side is going so positively, back room still being managed/owned so badly. Don’t ruin it (again). Sell the club before it goes under

@harry80729383: just when we are on the up, i think couple more red hot gems helping the cause would cement us gareenteed for the play offs,this will be our best chance of going up, and if we dont sort the players contract out now epl clubs will be poaching our players, were being taken notice of

@nostalgiaslave: Ron you just need to find a buyer for this great club and sell! Your doing it more harm than good now these days! You need to go

@NickLapwood: Same old 😡

@SenseiPhil2: Considering this continued dark cloud over the finances, you have to highlight the remarkable miracle work @kevlaa7 @rubycurrie @benno_1978 @LukePurcell1982 are doing with the lads on the pitch! You’re all top class!! 👏 👏 👏 👏

@KerenOrient: Again 🤦🏽‍♀️

@jamiestripe: you have to hand it them them, they have had more escapes than Houdini.

@paulchilton965: Notts county fan here, your a great club with great support and played really well last night and most of this season, we know exactly what your going through and the supporters deserve better i hope you get it sorted soon 👍

@AndrewStyles5: Not ideal but hopefully this allows us time to get some substantial funds into the club so we can actually have some financial stability for the next 12 to 18 months.

@JoeYoung__9: Sit tight for the next one, seems to come about every 6 months

@EddieEvansOT: Wrexham fan here. Scandalous for you. Fingers crossed you get out of this.

@UpTheSilkmen: You’ll be like us soon. I hope not. I wish you all the best.

@trevk37: And onto the next one. One question, why do leagues and the FA sit idle instead of getting involved and protecting or advising their member clubs?

@EmmaW1977: As a @dcfcofficial fan we’ve been here very recently! It’s heartbreaking to go through and I wouldn’t wish it on any other club! I hope you get this sorted and soon!

@_JamesWood_: On the pitch, proud to be a Southend fan again and fully supportive of the players, coaching staff and footballing department. Off it, I can’t remember a time that it hasn’t been embarrassing and depressing. #RonMartinOut

@prawnzone: Disgraceful statement. The day after a big crowd of over 6,000 faithful Shrimpers paid their money and turned up to cheer on the Blues, to a game that they could have watched on TV, this is all the explanation we get?

@SonnyGilbert12: Adjourned meaning that Ron has asked for more time meaning he hasn’t got the money.

@RyanStubbs_: Things literally couldn’t be going better on the field.. off the field however. Just another slap in the face to everyone who is doing their upmost for this football club by the prick who owns it. The time to go has long since passed.

@SmiffySUFC:
1st October:
Ron: “Bridging finance has been agreed, but has not yet been completed. Once it has (weeks not months) we will discharge the HMRC debt in full”
So we are now nearly 6 weeks on from that statement and it has not been settled.
Martin Out.

@SmiffySUFC:
Circus 🤡
Members of staff are also still waiting to be paid for October and Maher admitted it was impossible to block out.
“There’s stuff we have to deal with that’s part and parcel of Southend.”
Can’t even use the GPS vests as the bill hasn’t been paid.

@SheilaBeard9: Really feel for everyone at the club from management players and all the staff. It’s a terrible situation. We are achieving amazing things on the pitch and yet here we are again talking about the dire financial situation. Makes me so angry.

@CC_2201: Once again a reminder that our chairman will be the reason things go to shit on the pitch again this season. Kev and co basically doing their jobs with their hands tied. Talk to the potential buyers Mr Martin, sell the club and disappear and build your houses. #Martinout

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