Sussex Shrimper
Manager
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2004
- Messages
- 1,674
Let me start off by saying that I'm not looking to excuse the situation that the club finds itself in in any way shape or form. Even in a best case scenario, with the club agreeing a payment plan with HMRC and being able to continue operating in relative normality, it's axiomatic that steps must be taken to avoid a repeat of the situation. I respectfully ask, and that's all that I can do, that this thread not be turned into another finger pointing exercise. There are already 101 threads suitable for that, and we might have a lifetime to wring our hands and apportion blame. Time to take proactive steps and safeguard the future of a club that we all love might be in shorter supply.
Cutting to the chase, what I want to know is who would be willing, in principle and if necessary, to put their hands in their pockets and do their bit to keep the club above water. For the sake of argument, let's say that it required approximately 12,000 contributions of £50 to pay this tax bill. The obvious question that will arise is “why should I?”. To those that would ask it I would say that of course it's wrong that it should come down to that, but it may be a simple choice between life and death for Southend United F.C. Whatever the short term feelings of wronging, I put it to you that in the long term our interests are best served by putting them to one side and guaranteeing our future as a business.
I'm throwing this out there as an idea for now, to gauge feeling. If it were to get off of the ground I would suggest that it's something that the Trust might be interested in organising and liaising with the club over. Clearly there would need to be a structure in place to ensure that all money given was receipted and put towards the intended purpose. We might also seek undertakings from the club over future priorities in return. The finer details could be worked out at a future point.
For the club's part, if this were to happen I'm sure that some form of acknowledgement would be greatly appreciated by the fans. Off the top of my head I would suggest that a list of donors in the programme might be in order. Also, if Ron can sign Christmas cards to every season ticket holder, then would thank you cards hand signed by the players and management be out of the question? I'm sure that signed certificates stating that we had saved the club in its time of need would take pride of place on many a mantelpiece.
To Ron I would ask this: you've stated, quite correctly, on many an occasion that the fans are the lifeblood of the club. Southend United F.C. has a history of allowing the fans to play their part when necessary, most notably in the building of Roots Hall. I ask of you now that you not allow your pride as a businessman to prevent you from asking for help if it's needed to keep in business a football club that has been bringing happiness and pride to the people of the Southend area for over a century. If there's a danger that we may go out of business, then please allow us our opportunity to do our bit now to avoid that eventuality.
Thank you.
Cutting to the chase, what I want to know is who would be willing, in principle and if necessary, to put their hands in their pockets and do their bit to keep the club above water. For the sake of argument, let's say that it required approximately 12,000 contributions of £50 to pay this tax bill. The obvious question that will arise is “why should I?”. To those that would ask it I would say that of course it's wrong that it should come down to that, but it may be a simple choice between life and death for Southend United F.C. Whatever the short term feelings of wronging, I put it to you that in the long term our interests are best served by putting them to one side and guaranteeing our future as a business.
I'm throwing this out there as an idea for now, to gauge feeling. If it were to get off of the ground I would suggest that it's something that the Trust might be interested in organising and liaising with the club over. Clearly there would need to be a structure in place to ensure that all money given was receipted and put towards the intended purpose. We might also seek undertakings from the club over future priorities in return. The finer details could be worked out at a future point.
For the club's part, if this were to happen I'm sure that some form of acknowledgement would be greatly appreciated by the fans. Off the top of my head I would suggest that a list of donors in the programme might be in order. Also, if Ron can sign Christmas cards to every season ticket holder, then would thank you cards hand signed by the players and management be out of the question? I'm sure that signed certificates stating that we had saved the club in its time of need would take pride of place on many a mantelpiece.
To Ron I would ask this: you've stated, quite correctly, on many an occasion that the fans are the lifeblood of the club. Southend United F.C. has a history of allowing the fans to play their part when necessary, most notably in the building of Roots Hall. I ask of you now that you not allow your pride as a businessman to prevent you from asking for help if it's needed to keep in business a football club that has been bringing happiness and pride to the people of the Southend area for over a century. If there's a danger that we may go out of business, then please allow us our opportunity to do our bit now to avoid that eventuality.
Thank you.
