Tommy2holes
Life President⭐
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2007
- Messages
- 11,546
Much has been said over the years about our chairman. There have been very divided opinions on him. Some people have always doubted his ability as chairman. Others have seemingly put faith in him and consider that he is the only option.
When Ron took over in 1999 i believe?
At the time we were playing at roots hall and were very much a league 2 club. We weren't seen as a bigger club in the league and certainly weren't pulling up any trees. We regularly finished mid table or below in front of 3.5k fans most seasons.
Ron Martin came in and most were dubious of a property developer as chairman. Some were worried that we would simply be used for roots hall to be sold and built upon.
Nether the less. It would be unfair to say that Ron came into a cash rich or player rich club. Debts were some 4 million odd from memory and stability is what we all craved.
A succession of lower league managers had given the job a go and none had done much to improve the club.
Ron appointed Steve wignall and again it proved to be another mediocre appointment.
Ron placed Tilly in temporary charge and it turned out to be a master stroke. We went from relegation candidates to play off winners.
It was that first season in league 1 which is were the financial mismanagement started to creep in.
I think like most, Ron got caught up the upward surge of the club. The feel good factor and increase in gates and general profile.
Signings were made to enable us to maintain league 1. Miracles do happen and under Tilly we surged to a league 1 title.
Again this gave the club a lift. In truth this positive was potentially the undoing of the club.
We tried to keep pace and have a really good go at the championship. Signing over priced players on big money and got a terrible return on the outlay. We also signed players on long contracts that would be hugely problematic if the club were relegated. This proved the case as the club surrendered championship status at the first attempt.
Back in league 1 the club found it could not support the wage burden but continued to pay wages it could ill afford.
After missing out on an immediate return to the championship the club finally succumbed to wage issues and did not pay players for allegedly several months. This culminated in a return to the basement division after a few heady years.
Ron was swift to wield the axe and shifted blame to the players and management, whilst not acknowledging his own part in the mismanagement. This caused a big rift with fans who were hugely behind Tilson.
Back in league 2 the club was in a worse state than at the start of Ron's tenure. Paul Sturrock appointed with just several senior pros . Sturrock turned out to be a master stroke. He brought in solid pros by using all of his years of contacts and southend were once again stabilised. After a few peaks and troughs the chairman decided to dispatch with Sturrock services on the eve of a cup final. Again the fans did not agree with this and again the fans voiced displeasure.
For the first and not the last time. Ron hired a footballing name in Phil Brown.
Brown was not always liked but he did a good job and managed eventually to get the club back into league 1. Brown was another who had a eye for signing excellent talent, but at a cost of higher wages. This coincided with several trips by the football club for unpaid debts and our familiarity to HRMC.
Like most managers under Ron, Phil brown was given time and money to limited success.
By now Ron had been promising a new stadium to fans. Had been granted planning permission already but had yet to seal funding are get any building under way. For a lot of fans this was worrying. Ron Martin was a property developer but has remained unable to develop or deliver a new stadium. Most fans remained sceptical whether we would see a new stadium.
After Phil Brown, Ron appointed another name in Chris Powell. A name, more so to the Southend faithful as a previously well thought of team member. Initially Powell was successful. Guiding Southend to safety and then finding things difficult the next season. With Southend in a similarly precarious situation some 10 months after. Ron wielded the axe again. Again fans were left feeling disgruntled. Powell was well thought of and most felt that he was very unlucky.
This was now the start of managers coming and going in quick succession, with all given limited time and money and blamed for both problems on and off the pitch.
Kevin bond came in and most fans were not happy as felt this was a poor choice. Bond however kept the team in league 1 amongst a media back drop of Harry Redknapp.
The following season the axe was again wielded after poor results and ongoing financial difficulties.
The merry go round continued. The chairman chased after another name for a lengthy period of time and ultimately did not appoint Henrik Larson. Instead opting to bring in a hugely expensive team with Sol Campbell the figurehead.
By now the finances of the club were critical. The trips to court for late payments were becoming regular and non payment of wages commonplace. Results did very little to improve and by the time covid caused a break in play, the writing was on the wall for almost certain relegation.
The uncertainty continued for several months until the inevitable happened and blues were again relegated to the basement.
Sol and Co departed and Mark Molesley appointed. This appointment more aligned with the clubs ever fading finances.
We are now 4 games into a behind close doors season and have lost 4 games.
We have little to no quality or experience. Are still playing under and embargo and cannot sign players. We have not settled the monies owed to HRMC and have no fan income from a match day perspective.
Ron remains in charge after 20 odd years.
We are still at roots hall
We are still league 2
We are more in debt than ever
We are under an embargo and seem unable to pay off the debt which will see us able to sign players.
Initially Ron appeared to have an impact on the club and results. The last 3 seasons however have been not only the most painful for blues fans but more importantly, the records will show this to be the worst period in the history of the club.
With all of the above in mind. It would be difficult to argue that Ron has been a success. Any success swallowed up by huge amounts of failure and mismanagement.
The only thing that will bring the club back from the brink is that planning for the new stadium may soon be granted. That said we have been promised so much so often, and very little has come to fruition.
When Ron took over in 1999 i believe?
At the time we were playing at roots hall and were very much a league 2 club. We weren't seen as a bigger club in the league and certainly weren't pulling up any trees. We regularly finished mid table or below in front of 3.5k fans most seasons.
Ron Martin came in and most were dubious of a property developer as chairman. Some were worried that we would simply be used for roots hall to be sold and built upon.
Nether the less. It would be unfair to say that Ron came into a cash rich or player rich club. Debts were some 4 million odd from memory and stability is what we all craved.
A succession of lower league managers had given the job a go and none had done much to improve the club.
Ron appointed Steve wignall and again it proved to be another mediocre appointment.
Ron placed Tilly in temporary charge and it turned out to be a master stroke. We went from relegation candidates to play off winners.
It was that first season in league 1 which is were the financial mismanagement started to creep in.
I think like most, Ron got caught up the upward surge of the club. The feel good factor and increase in gates and general profile.
Signings were made to enable us to maintain league 1. Miracles do happen and under Tilly we surged to a league 1 title.
Again this gave the club a lift. In truth this positive was potentially the undoing of the club.
We tried to keep pace and have a really good go at the championship. Signing over priced players on big money and got a terrible return on the outlay. We also signed players on long contracts that would be hugely problematic if the club were relegated. This proved the case as the club surrendered championship status at the first attempt.
Back in league 1 the club found it could not support the wage burden but continued to pay wages it could ill afford.
After missing out on an immediate return to the championship the club finally succumbed to wage issues and did not pay players for allegedly several months. This culminated in a return to the basement division after a few heady years.
Ron was swift to wield the axe and shifted blame to the players and management, whilst not acknowledging his own part in the mismanagement. This caused a big rift with fans who were hugely behind Tilson.
Back in league 2 the club was in a worse state than at the start of Ron's tenure. Paul Sturrock appointed with just several senior pros . Sturrock turned out to be a master stroke. He brought in solid pros by using all of his years of contacts and southend were once again stabilised. After a few peaks and troughs the chairman decided to dispatch with Sturrock services on the eve of a cup final. Again the fans did not agree with this and again the fans voiced displeasure.
For the first and not the last time. Ron hired a footballing name in Phil Brown.
Brown was not always liked but he did a good job and managed eventually to get the club back into league 1. Brown was another who had a eye for signing excellent talent, but at a cost of higher wages. This coincided with several trips by the football club for unpaid debts and our familiarity to HRMC.
Like most managers under Ron, Phil brown was given time and money to limited success.
By now Ron had been promising a new stadium to fans. Had been granted planning permission already but had yet to seal funding are get any building under way. For a lot of fans this was worrying. Ron Martin was a property developer but has remained unable to develop or deliver a new stadium. Most fans remained sceptical whether we would see a new stadium.
After Phil Brown, Ron appointed another name in Chris Powell. A name, more so to the Southend faithful as a previously well thought of team member. Initially Powell was successful. Guiding Southend to safety and then finding things difficult the next season. With Southend in a similarly precarious situation some 10 months after. Ron wielded the axe again. Again fans were left feeling disgruntled. Powell was well thought of and most felt that he was very unlucky.
This was now the start of managers coming and going in quick succession, with all given limited time and money and blamed for both problems on and off the pitch.
Kevin bond came in and most fans were not happy as felt this was a poor choice. Bond however kept the team in league 1 amongst a media back drop of Harry Redknapp.
The following season the axe was again wielded after poor results and ongoing financial difficulties.
The merry go round continued. The chairman chased after another name for a lengthy period of time and ultimately did not appoint Henrik Larson. Instead opting to bring in a hugely expensive team with Sol Campbell the figurehead.
By now the finances of the club were critical. The trips to court for late payments were becoming regular and non payment of wages commonplace. Results did very little to improve and by the time covid caused a break in play, the writing was on the wall for almost certain relegation.
The uncertainty continued for several months until the inevitable happened and blues were again relegated to the basement.
Sol and Co departed and Mark Molesley appointed. This appointment more aligned with the clubs ever fading finances.
We are now 4 games into a behind close doors season and have lost 4 games.
We have little to no quality or experience. Are still playing under and embargo and cannot sign players. We have not settled the monies owed to HRMC and have no fan income from a match day perspective.
Ron remains in charge after 20 odd years.
We are still at roots hall
We are still league 2
We are more in debt than ever
We are under an embargo and seem unable to pay off the debt which will see us able to sign players.
Initially Ron appeared to have an impact on the club and results. The last 3 seasons however have been not only the most painful for blues fans but more importantly, the records will show this to be the worst period in the history of the club.
With all of the above in mind. It would be difficult to argue that Ron has been a success. Any success swallowed up by huge amounts of failure and mismanagement.
The only thing that will bring the club back from the brink is that planning for the new stadium may soon be granted. That said we have been promised so much so often, and very little has come to fruition.
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