Supporters Group Statement – 25th June 2024

Southend United fans everywhere are tired. The city of Southend-on-Sea is tired. We are all tired of the Martin family; tired of their greed, tired of their emotional blackmail and tired of their false dawns.

As the situation around Southend United becomes more complex, it gets harder to find the clarity needed to digest, process and reiterate that this wonderful football club stretches beyond lease agreements, debt and turmoil. We have to remind ourselves of its history and the memories we cherish, because the present is traumatic. We know supporters all over the world feel this too.

As it stands, common sense is prevailing and the complex property transaction that underpins this deal is being decoupled from the takeover. Everyone involved in this takeover is aware that Ron Martin only has one option to deliver his housing: Southend-on-Sea City Council. He has run out of road and he knows it; weeks of last-minute tweaks are over.

This really is it. Ron Martin must finally admit that to himself. Take this deal or lose everything. In the latter scenario, the unthinkable happens; everyone’s dreams will die at the behest of one man, and he – and his family – will forever be remembered for gambling and losing, holding a city to ransom whilst destroying one of its prized possessions.

Southend United means so much to so many people. Roots Hall is a place where families gather, where friendships are forged and relationships are started. The football club is a thread which binds the local community together, which bolsters the economy and which acts as living and breathing heritage.

This is people’s livelihoods. Close to a hundred people are employed by Southend United, whether that be players, coaches or back-office staff, positively affecting the lives of thousands. It is linked to a thriving Community Foundation, bringing joy to people of all ages, and Roots Hall hosts social inclusion projects, the Junior Blues and events held by the Southend United Ex-Players Association.

We thank Southend-on-Sea City Council and COSU for their continued endeavours, and for presenting a resolution that could save Southend United FC. Unfortunately, this is only one of many roads reaching a potentially catastrophic end.

Yesterday, the National League released a statement revealing that the club would be required to pay a £1 million bond unless an agreement for a change of ownership was put in place, or the club could show that it would have the finances in place to survive the 2024/25 season.

The league’s General Manager, Mark Ives, was quoted at the first sitting of the Football Governance Bill committee as saying that the National League’s financial regulations are “not just about sanctions, but about helping the club make sure that they do not fall off the edge…We have been able to assist [those] clubs to make sure that they survive.”

Now is the time for the National League to practice what they have preached and show greater compassion regarding the payment terms of this bond, at the very least, to ensure the club survives. We understand you are as sick of Ron Martin as we are, but please do not punish us for his sins. Now is not the time for others to play games. Don’t be the ones to kill the club.

To our creditors, we urge patience. We understand you have leverage, but your leverage is our pain and the supporter-base is exhausted at talking people down and preparing for outcomes. You need to think beyond business; your money only returns if there is a club existing in the first place.

Our final plea is directed towards the football authorities and our politicians. Football and property speculation must be untangled. Too many times football has said ‘this must be the last time’. And yet now, once again, our club is on the precipice.

Punishments and regulations must affect owners, not fans, players, coaches and staff. Mechanisms need to be put in place to stop this, and we implore all parliamentary candidates for the upcoming General Election to commit to an independent football regulator that puts fans first, and business second.

We thank the wider football community for their support. Many have felt our pain in the past, and their generosity with knowledge and guidance has been humbling.

The next 24 hours are crucial for our football club. We hope this will be the last time the future is held in the hands of one man but, for now, Ron Martin simply must take the only option available to him and cede to the wishes of the local Council, of COSU and of the club’s long-suffering supporters.

We would like to conclude by reiterating that anyone who is struggling with anxiety about this ongoing situation is not alone. There are people can help, and further details about some of those organisations are available via the websites listed below:

Previously issued Statements can be found below.

Trust Statements
Supporters Group Statement – 25th June 2024 Trust Statement – Update To Members – 23rd June 2024 Trust Statement – 16th June 2024 Trust Statement – 7th June 2024
Supporters Group Statement – 24th May 2024 Trust Statement – 17th May 2024 Trust Statement – 10th May 2024 Trust Statement – 5th April 2024
Trust Statement – 2nd April 2024 SUFC / Southend Council FAQ’s – 20th February 2024 Trust Statement – 17th January 2024 Trust Statement – 23rd December 2023
Trust Statement – 11th November 2023 Trust Statement – 8th November 2023 Trust Statement – 3rd October 2023 Shrimpers Trust & Irons Trust Joint Statement – 2nd October 2023
Trust Statement – 2nd October 2023 – Dereliction & Decline Supporters Group Statement – 21st September 2023 Membership Drive – 20th September 2023 Trust Statement – 19th September 2023
Trust Statement – 8th September 2023 Trust Statement – 4th September 2023 Supporters Group Statement – 1st September 2023 Trust Statement – 30th August 2023
Trust Statement – 23rd August 2023 Supporters Group Statement – 4th August 2023 Supporters Group Statement – 26th July 2023 Supporters Group Statement – 25th July 2023
Supporters Group Statement – 22nd July 2023 Supporters Group Statement – 18th July 2023 Trust Statement – 14th July 2023 Supporters Group Statement – 14th July 2023
Trust Statement – Letter to the National League – 13th July 2023 Supporters Group Statement – 12th July 2023 Trust Statement – 10th July 23 Supporters Group Statement – 5th July 2023
Supporters Group Statement – 6th June 2023 End of Season Report 22/23 Supporters Group Statement – 17th May 2023 Supporters Group Statement – 4th May 2023
Open Letter to Southend Council Planning Officer – 02/05/23 Supporters Group Statement – 28/03/23 Ron Martin & Tom Lawrence Answer Your Questions – 28/03/23 Open Letter to the Leadership, Executive, Councillors and MPs of Southend on Sea – 20/03/23
Trust Statement – 17/03/23 Supporters Group – SUFC 2022/23 ST Survey – Update – 16/03/23 Supporters Group Statement – 13/03/23 Supporters Group – SUFC 2022/23 ST Survey – 13/03/23
Trust Update – 08/03/22 Supporters Group Statement – 28/02/23 Trust Statement – 24/02/23 Letter To The APPG – 18/02/23
Anna Firth, MP Answers Your Questions – 17/02/23 Trust General Statement – Feb 2023 Trust Statement – Anna Firth, MP Meeting – 10/02/23 Supporters Group Statement – 31/01/23
Supporters Group Statement – 27/01/23 Trust Statement – HMRC Adjournment – 22/01/23 Trust Statement – HMRC Adjournment – 18/01/23 Supporters Group Statements – Nov 2022
Shrimpers Trust Confirm Loan – 15/11/12 Trust Statement – Winding-up Petition – 09/11/22 Trust Statement – Transfer Embargo – 01/10/22 Trust Statement – Non-Playing Staff Wages – 22/09/22
End Of Season Report – 21/22 Trust Statement – Work Starts On Fossetts – 08/07/22 Trust Statement – We Love The Club You Idiot! – 08/12/21 Trust Statement – Time For Reflection! – 12/10/21
Trust Statement – When Is Enough Enough? – 03/10/21 Trust Statement – Tom Lawrence – 21/05/21 Trust Statement – SOS Rally – 29/04/21 Trust Statement – 24/04/21
Trust Statement – 20/03/21 Trust Statement – SUFC Finances – Sept/Oct 2020 Trust Statement – 05/03/20 Trust Statement – 31/01/20
Trust & SZ Meeting with Ron Martin – 12/10/12 Trust Statement – 24/09/12 Darlington – Back From The Brink – Jan 2012 Aldershot Town FC – 12/01/12
HMRC Winding-up Petition – 03/08/11 Barry The Parrot Does East Fife – 18/07/11 Supporters Direct Public Statement – 13/06/11 Season Tickets – Price Increase – 29/03/11
Club Pay Back Trust Loan – 28/08/10 High Court Hearing / Club Loan – 04/08/10 Letter To Sainsbury’s – 02/07/10 Club Loan – 01/07/10
Winding-up Petition – 03/06/10 Paul & Rob’s Big Day Out – 21/04/10 High Court Hearing – 15/04/10 Loan Extension – 02/03/10
Ron Martin’s Blog – 31/12/09 Help The Trust End Polio Now – 10/12/09 Trust Statements – Oct/Nov 2009