Off it employed a CEO.
Off it employed 3 coaches who you seem to rate.
Off it is engaging with supporters in meetings such as Wednesday where some are crying already because they've already decided the agenda or can't get a ticket in the most open and fair way to allow supporters to attend.
Off it has just brought 2 new club sponsors to the table, with a potential third ready to spend money at the club ( which I'll tell those who attend tomorrow about, and why they want to sponsor your club).
Off it has been offered conservatively 50 players from clubs that Southend United had no relationship with previously, on loan or permanent, and being first to be told.
Off it is now being contacted by Premier League clubs to play behind closed doors games.
Off it is coordinating a media strategy to keep supporters informed and give insight into the club, especially for those exiled who wouldn't ordinarily get to see little things happening at the training ground or Roots Hall.
Off it is working on a comprehensive list of targets to improve the squad and first team.
Off it brought in a Head of Football. The only man with 3 promotions out of the division.
Off it gave a box, and a home and away shirt to a man who lost two children and is looking to raise funds for TOFS, so his club who he supports home and away knows is club cares and wants to help.
Off it asked for a moritorium in order to give the three coaches you rate a chance to succeed, along with a group of players flatter than a snakes belly. It was impeccably observed. Without the request or adherence to it, Chesterfield at home would more than likely happened again.
Off it goes around staff at both sites asking them what they practically need to make their jobs more satisfying, and letting them know they are valued.
Amongst dozens of other things.
But of course that's what supporters events that were demanded by me as part of my role, are for.
To ask questions. And where not commercially sensitive, to give answers.
100 tickets were made available via a link, everyone had an equal opportunity to get a ticket.
It's not a polit bureau meeting whereby every single word is documented and poured over and twisted by the few on here crying because they were blocked on twitter. It's an informal meeting where supporters are invited to hear the above, some specifics, direction of travel and why, in an informal environment where supporters who don't know me get to know me.
Really simple.
If supporters don't want that, that's fine. I'll put a bulletin out monthly and put it in the programme.
As for preferred access for some groups, my view is a simple one. To allay any fears that some groups are over represented or underrepresented or not represented at all, a decision was made to put the tickets on Eventbrite, with a first come, first serve policy. That is simple fairness in action. An equal opportunity for Southend United supporters to get a ticket.
If this event works, then a conversation will be had as to whether to record it. But there are no plans to record it tomorrow.
Why? It's an informal meeting where adults can go away and tell supporters groups that I've said we'll be signing Lionel Messi and I hate Tom Lawrence or that I'm planning to merge Colchester United and Southend United. Should any misrepresentations happen ( I work on you trust me, I trust you. Simple), then tomorrow's meeting ( instigated by me and only me), will be the last. I'm here to give supporters a voice in the club, I bat hard for that and it's a key part of the club moving forward, but shenanigans and misrepresentation will simply lead to a bulletin put out monthly.
If you're coming, come with a question or two, I'll endeavour to answer all reasonable questions that are in my remit, and will say "I'm not qualified to answer that " or" I'm not answering that because of...." If I can't. Simple, clear, unambiguous.
I work only on one basic value, I treat you how you treat me, and tomorrow I expect to have a really enjoyable night, meeting the most important people at our club, the people who put their money in their pockets, support the team home and away and who want their club to thrive, not just survive. In that regard I'm an asset you can use and can bank on it.
But I won't have malintents turning up throwing their bile or Twitter block or longstanding issues with Ron or a seat or an owed shirt around. I'm nobody's punch bag.
We're delivering plenty and you'll hear plenty of what that is but if you're planning to come and disrupt or moan or complain about anything and everything, you're in for a disappointing night.
If you're coming to ask what the club is doing on and off the pitch to match your ambitions as supporters, listen to answers and get to know your biggest advocate within the club, then you're in for a great night.
To those who can't make it, we will look at recording future events on the basis of how tomorrow goes. To those from very important supporter groups such as the Trust, SOS abd others that couldn't get tickets, it's was a club decision to open the procedure to be "first come, first served" as the capacity is 100. It does not devalue what I personally think of supporters groups because that is on record and we'll known, but first come, first served is fair to ALL Southend United supporters and it's all Southend United supporters across the spectrum that I'm addressing tomorrow. It is a given that at Trust or SOS or Blue Voice or Custard Splat ( I've offered 4 times to go on the podcast but we haven't been able to match schedules yet) invitation, I would be delighted to attend their events.
But tomorrow, it's open to everyone on a first come, first served basis. And that is fair.
See everyone tomorrow, very much looking forward to your questions.
Stan
