Shrimpers Trust News Latest news from Shrimpers Trust including the Southend re-United campaign.

[Shrimperstrust]

Thanks to all of you who are joining up, it is much appreciated.

Just so you are aware Memberships take around 3/5 days to process.

Those who have joined so far to day should receive their membership cards etc. around Weds/Thurs of next week.

 

[Shrimperstrust]

Yesterday evening the Shrimpers Trust held a Board meeting at which the future of the club was discussed at length.

We agreed an action plan with some key positive steps agreed, and this will now urgently be considered with Ron Martin. We are mindful of the need to act quickly and will be looking to communicate more in the coming days.

Meanwhile, we are immensely encouraged by the significant increase in new members coming to the Trust in recent days and we would like to thank you all as well as those of you who are existing members or in the process of renewing your subscription.

Without your support we could not do what we do which is to act in the best interests of all for the future of the football club that we all love.

 

[Shrimperstrust]

The Trust Chairman spoke with Ron Martin yesterday and received some reassuring comments regarding funds for the HMRC debt and ongoing costs. It is our view however, as we are sure it is for most fans, that a great deal of uncertainty still remains.

We understand that Ron Martin is speaking to the BBC today. Our Trust Chairman then has a further discussion booked with Ron Martin on Friday.

The situation is clearly very fluid and at this moment in time it is difficult to propose any action such as a fundraising campaign until we have managed to get further clarity. For now, we reserve judgement and propose to issue a further communication after the next discussion with Ron.

On a really positive note, we are pleased and delighted to have welcomed so many new members recently and would further urge others to consider joining now at what is a crucial time in the history of our club. As always, contrarian views are welcomed (whether it comes from a Trust member or not) and by joining the Trust it will continue to grow and become even stronger to thereby further enable us to face whatever challenges may lie ahead in the future.

 

[Shrimperstrust]

Following Ron Martin's interview on the BBC, the Trust felt it should comment on some of the content.

Ron had informed the Trust Chairman that funds would be received from the parent company of SUFC. This is the money that will be used to clear the HMRC debt before the 28th of October. The Trust were resisting calls to mount a specific funding campaign prior to Ron making public his intentions. We are pleased to hear the news regarding funding, but remain cautious as to the timing for obvious reasons. Further, it goes without saying that the funding of ongoing operations for any club in these times is perilous.

The Trust is delighted to have received so many offers of help recently and also to have seen a significant increase in our membership.

We applaud the individual efforts to raise money for our club. Whilst Ron has intimated that the club's funding is being addressed, we do believe it to be appropriate for help to be given to the club at least regarding ongoing operations, and indeed we understand that other clubs have received financial help from their fans for this purpose.
With this in mind we will be setting up a Trust fighting fund - 'Southend Re-United' - to provide the club with targeted ongoing financial support, and we will release details of that in the next few days. It is intended that this fund will receive the existing monies raised by fans via separate appeals where those appeal groups agree.

Ron in his BBC interview praised the Trust and its support for the club. A key focus of our strategy for a number of years now has been to provide sponsorship for the youth team - last season we donated £8,000 specifically to them. We have however stepped in a couple of times for other reasons. We anticipate this support to continue, and indeed it has been encouraging to see the progress of many of the club's youngsters to the first team at a time when they were really needed.

Our increased revenue due to the increase in Trust membership levels will allow our support in this vital area to be maintained. If you have not yet joined the Trust and wish to do so then you can at the following link (membership subscriptions start at £7.00 for a one year adult membership): http://www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/home.asp?page_id=80

Rest assured, in our role as a fan's voice,. we will look to maintain an ongoing dialogue with Ron. We also see it as vital to have contact with our club's manager, even more so in these 'socially distanced' times, and are arranging to catch up with Mark Molesley very soon too.

We will announce details of how you can donate to 'Southend Re-United' shortly.

 

[Shrimperstrust]

Further to our announcement on 27 September we are now pleased to launch our Southend Re-United campaign.

In these challenging times this is a facility whereby supporters can donate to a ring-fenced fund held by the Shrimpers Trust to then be used to help the club's ongoing finances.

We will keep the need and purpose of this fund under constant review and keep you informed of progress.

Full details and the donation facility can be found on the Trust Website here.

 

[Dazzaref]

Further to our announcement on 27 September we are now pleased to launch our Southend Re-United campaign.

In these challenging times this is a facility whereby supporters can donate to a ring-fenced fund held by the Shrimpers Trust to then be used to help the club's ongoing finances.

We will keep the need and purpose of this fund under constant review and keep you informed of progress.

Full details and the donation facility can be found on the Trust Website here.

Great stuff. Does this deserve a new thread to help with advertising? Just my opinion (you may have this in hand anyway) but would a running total with targets assist in drumming up support?

 

[Shrimperstrust]

Great stuff. Does this deserve a new thread to help with advertising? Just my opinion (you may have this in hand anyway) but would a running total with targets assist in drumming up support?

That will be up to the admins if we can run a separate thread on the main forum.

We will publish the current totals every couple of days, however we do not have a target as such.

 

[Cricko]

The Shrimpers Trust have launched a"Southend Re-United" campaign to raise funds to be held to help the club.


If you feel you wish to add to the funds then please click the link in the statement. I think atm we should all do all we can.

In their words:



Further to our announcement on 27 September we are now pleased to launch our Southend Re-United campaign.

In these challenging times this is a facility whereby supporters can donate to a ring-fenced fund held by the Shrimpers Trust to then be used to help the club's ongoing finances.

We will keep the need and purpose of this fund under constant review and keep you informed of progress.

"Full details and the donation facility can be found on the Trust Website here.

The club's continuing financial struggles in extremely challenging times has led to many fans offering help. Indeed, some have instigated their own funding initiatives.

Whilst we have been assured by the club chairman, Ron Martin, that the debt currently outstanding with HMRC will be paid in full, we do believe it appropriate for help to be given to the club at least regarding ongoing operations. With this in mind, we are pleased to now launch our funding help campaign, 'Southend Re-United'.

In an ever-changing situation it may prove that the club becomes eligible to receive financial assistance from elsewhere, either from the government or from within the game itself. However, any such help is perhaps unlikely to fully replicate the revenue that the club might expect to generate in normal times, and meanwhile the many costs associated with running a club in the EFL remain.

As fans we support our club through thick and thin, and the present situation is possibly as 'thin' as it has ever been in our 114 year proud history since that meeting between Oliver Trigg and co at the Blue Boar on 19 May 1906. Many fans have already purchased 2020/21 season tickets perhaps more in hope of being able to attend than expectation, donated ticket money from last season, provided sponsorship, and much more. But nothing can replicate the revenue brought in by normal match day income, and attendance has currently been reduced from an average of 6,932 in our last full season to zero.

The Covid19 pandemic has led to many challenges we know regarding family incomes, but for those who are able and that wish to help support our club through these un-precedented times 'Southend Re-United' provides fans with the opportunity to donate whatever they can to help seek to maintain a professional football club in Southend. Indeed, this desire is at the very heart of the objectives of the Shrimpers Trust.

Whatever you can donate will be ring-fenced into a separate pool within the Shrimpers Trust, which itself is wholly independent of the club's own operations and finances. It is then our intention, during November, to use whatever has been accumulated to help support the club's ongoing finances, and the best way of doing this will be agreed with Ron Martin at that time.

We will keep fans informed of the progress of this campaign, and we will keep its need and purpose under constant review.

Shrimpers fans have always been united in their support for the club we all love. 'Southend Re-United' brings us together as one at a time when we are not currently able to go to Roots Hall and show our support in person."

 

[RHB]

Done!

 

[Paddington Blue]

Done - hopefully this money will not be needed but as fans we should prepare for any eventuality

 

[Thor1]

Ditto

 

[shrimperjon]

Just donated

 

[OldBlueLady]

Thank you @Cricko x

 

[GBJ]

Not looking to be tricky or anything, but what happened to the thousands that were raised a decade ago, when we were in this same situation?

I’m sure it’s been mentioned several times since, but I either missed it, or can’t remember.

 

[RHB]

That will be up to the admins if we can run a separate thread on the main forum.

We will publish the current totals every couple of days, however we do not have a target as such.

I've edited the title of this thread to enable you to report on current totals and to keep it in ChitChat. I've deliberately kept the title general so other news can be added in one place. Hope that helps.

 

[Mad Cyril]

AFC - no good to me.

 

[OldBlueLady]

@GBJ still within the Trust accounts I believe

 

[Shrimperstrust]

SOUTHEND RE-UNITED, AND A BRIEF GENERAL UPDATE

The Shrimpers Trust held a further Board meeting on Monday (12 October) at which the club's finances were again the main discussion point. We continue to be in regular contact with Ron Martin, and the Trust Board are also aiming to have a meeting with him immediately after the 28 October 2020 deadline for payment of the remaining debt to HMRC.

The monies raised so far under the 'Southend Re-United' campaign total £1,588.74, which includes £403.74 received from the 'Save Our Southend' appeal on GoFundMe.

To this can be added the sum of £6,411 (from the previous campaign in 2009) which remains in the Trust's reserves.

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who has made a contribution to the campaign. It currently remains our intention to take stock of the position during November and use whatever monies have been accumulated to help support the club'' ongoing finances.

New members continue to join the Trust (119 since the HMRC court case on 16 September 2020) and this further helps the Trust build up funds to ultimately help our club. The new member total includes 11 life members, one of whom we are delighted to say is SUFC Board member Gary Lockett.

The facility to make donations to the 'Southend Re-United' campaign remains open and can be found here.

 

[Shrimperstrust]

SOUTHEND RE-UNITED, AND A BRIEF GENERAL UPDATE

The Shrimpers Trust held a further Board meeting on Monday (12 October) at which the club's finances were again the main discussion point. We continue to be in regular contact with Ron Martin, and the Trust Board are also aiming to have a meeting with him immediately after the 28 October 2020 deadline for payment of the remaining debt to HMRC.

The monies raised so far under the 'Southend Re-United' campaign total £1,588.74, which includes £403.74 received from the 'Save Our Southend' appeal on GoFundMe.

To this can be added the sum of £6,411 (from the previous campaign in 2009) which remains in the Trust's reserves.

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who has made a contribution to the campaign. It currently remains our intention to take stock of the position during November and use whatever monies have been accumulated to help support the club'' ongoing finances.

New members continue to join the Trust (119 since the HMRC court case on 16 September 2020) and this further helps the Trust build up funds to ultimately help our club. The new member total includes 11 life members, one of whom we are delighted to say is SUFC Board member Gary Lockett.

The facility to make donations to the 'Southend Re-United' campaign remains open and can be found here.