Silence

[Rayleigh boy]

Do we actually have a board of directors or are they just Ron’s puppets nobody ever speaks out never hear anything of mention of our troubles at the club or one of them praising our club’s loyal fans or a special mention for the fantastic away following up & down the country if anyone knows a board member can they ask them to start speaking out or are they all happy with how things are?

true - but I am suggesting that our supporters group establish an organisation (compony/trust - whatever) to fight for fans ownership and to attract investment into a new version/ownership of SUFC ...

if our supporters group can establish itself as legitimate organisation - all correctly registered and constituted - it will have board of directors and inviting football people in might be useful

 

[Kat_r]

true - but I am suggesting that our supporters group establish an organisation (compony/trust - whatever) to fight for fans ownership and to attract investment into a new version/ownership of SUFC ...

if our supporters group can establish itself as legitimate organisation - all correctly registered and constituted - it will have board of directors and inviting football people in might be useful

Good ideas. Unity. Must also be independent from the club no employees or associates. Without fans there is no club.

 

[Napster]

true - but I am suggesting that our supporters group establish an organisation (compony/trust - whatever) to fight for fans ownership and to attract investment into a new version/ownership of SUFC ...

if our supporters group can establish itself as legitimate organisation - all correctly registered and constituted - it will have board of directors and inviting football people in might be useful

That’s literally what the Trust is

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

That’s literally what the Trust is

...other than it sucks up to Ron and doesn't represent all the different areas of the supporter base

 

[Alexshrimper]

Perhaps a rebranding of the trust incorporating all supporter groups

All the latest coms has incorporated all supports groups so don’t see why it can’t all be brought all together under one roof.

The trust can’t carry on as it is. It needs a complete restructure and new vision to hold Ron to account.

 

[Rayleigh boy]

That’s literally what the Trust is

i dont think the trust is designed to do this... the aims of the Trust will be restricted by its constitution.

There are different ways to set up something in our situation that is suitable.

 

[Jai]

...other than it sucks up to Ron and doesn't represent all the different areas of the supporter base

The Trust literally represents Southend supporters. Anyone can join and be elected to the board. If someone doesn't like what the Trust do might I suggest they join themselves and try and change from within.

 

[Rayleigh boy]

Perhaps a rebranding of the trust incorporating all supporter groups

All the latest coms has incorporated all supports groups so don’t see why it can’t all be brought all together under one roof.

The trust can’t carry on as it is. It needs a complete restructure and new vision to hold Ron to account.

I cant find the trusts constitution on their website but this is how they are legally constituted as an "Industrial Provident Society" .. which might ir might not retsrict their activity.

I think the Trust has its own traditions and does great work and we need something different for our situation.

I know the united supporters group has been talking to the football supporters association and trying to get advice on the various ways to take over.... I have family connections to Portsmouth so have watched their supporters trust take over and run the club - and sell it on....

For at the moment it feels like a bit of a phoney war as there is a large part of me that wants to wake up tomorrow with the embargo lifted and major work started at FF and it all to be bad dream ... maybe its not as bad as it looks ...

Or maybe it is ....



The Shrimpers Trust is the trading name of the Southend United Supporters Society Limited.
Registered in England and Wales as an Industrial and Provident Society
with the Financial Conduct Authority, Registration Number: 7160.
Registered Office: Thames House, 1528 London Road, Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 2QQ

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

Perhaps a rebranding of the trust incorporating all supporter groups

All the latest coms has incorporated all supports groups so don’t see why it can’t all be brought all together under one roof.

The trust can’t carry on as it is. It needs a complete restructure and new vision to hold Ron to account.

I like the idea of that. A new organisation that blends all the different factions together. They are all on the same wavelength at the moment, so why not take it one step further. Instead of Ron cherrypicking the Trust as the one he'll talk to, why not steer him to the new organisation which oversees them all

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

The Trust literally represents Southend supporters. Anyone can join and be elected to the board. If someone doesn't like what the Trust do might I suggest they join themselves and try and change from within.

I believe people have tried to change from within, to no avail

 

[Liam AAS]

I like the idea of that. A new organisation that blends all the different factions together. They are all on the same wavelength at the moment, so why not take it one step further. Instead of Ron cherrypicking the Trust as the one he'll talk to, why not steer him to the new organisation which oversees them all

A lot of people on those supporters calls are trust members. There is no need for a new organisation, you can just play a more active part in the existing one. Several trust board members run unopposed for their positions and are re-elected simply because no one stands against them. You would find that, in my experience, they are open minded and good listeners and would do what it takes to protect the club.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I believe people have tried to change from within, to no avail

Really? What makes you believe that?

The Trust is a constituted organisation. We reach decisions by democratic methods and have the ear of professional bodies such as the FSA and our local MP.

I struggle to understand what people want when you have outsiders such as @basilrobbie basically telling you what we're doing is what you should expect.

 

[E for B and Billy Best]

Everyone stay United and back the fans group, it's the only way we can win. RM will hate the media attention shining a light on his deceitful business shenanigans. Stay strong, stay united and lets get our club back.

 

[CaptainSmudger]

Afternoon all, hope everyone is well.

Silence versus verbal diahorrea versus regular communication. Which should I chose?

Well,lately it's been silence. Why? I'll tell you.

There's a lengthy zoom call from before I came to the club outlining what I wanted to do and acheive. Some obviously haven't watched it.

Media. Help Matt and the media team give excellent media content.

Commercial. Help Rhys and Rylee bring in £ and develop better partnerships.

Recruitment. Playing staff and football staff. To ensure ( along with Football Department) we get 80%+ of on pitch decisions right.

Supporters. Regular monthly meetings to keep supporters updated on on field decisions, why and any non sensitive off pitch ( commercial, media, et.) information.

I know the financial picture of the club, future plans , FF, training ground, general overview, but never once have I intimated that my role includes club finances,Chairman's decisions, or privy to legal information on any of his businesses, including Southend United. Not once.

I don't care about any abuse, I just feel sorry for them because like all of us, we crave information that will lead to a safe and healthy club. So if they have to take it out on me, so be it, as long as the staff and players are protected. I'll then remind them some sunny day what I've done and they can write an A4 page of lines "Stan, I apologise, I love you..

So..

Media, the boys can only concentrate on the basics, we have no money to develop content as we'd want. Matt and Co are still doing a great job though, support them.

Supporters. After meeting 1, no more. I think it's fair to say the club have had a "there's no good news so why talk about on pitch or commercial positives ". They have a point although I'm personally disappointed. But I can't do something that the club feel is a bad idea. And I trust Tom Lawrence judgement 100%. When the situation improves, the the things the club can do will improve, including communication in person.

Commercial. Rylee and Rhys are working tirelessly to bring in much needed funds and are. I help where I can and have helped bring in some new business and will host a networking event to engage with more in March.

Football. Hednesford v Coalville for me last Saturday, turning down a lucrative trip to Paris( i'm going this weekend for Canal Plus France) to watch players. Kev, Daz, Benno and John all know I'm there to assist and facilitate anything they want, and I spoke at B&L 3 weeks ago to staff and players to tell them that I'm there for them, in whatever way I can help.

The financial situation I can do nothing about which means..

We can't move on targets.
I can't meet you regularly because of above reason.
Commercially I'll support the guys in any way I can.
Media will grow as we have resources to grow.

In short, everyone, and I mean everyone at the club are restricted by the financial situation. And that situation is dictated by the Chairman. I've met him several times, I speak candidly to him, try to nudge and persuade and to that end have had some success. But I cannot threaten Ron with my loud media voice. Why? As I've said before, I can help carry a banner up the road and realistically do nothing to change the club, or I can be inside to persuade, support, facilitate change. Without the patience ( i'm not the most patient person, so it's a skill I've had to learn) to stay inside the club and support everyone where I can, and to talk frankly to those who wield decision making power, I honestly believe the club would be in the NLS, without a CEO who is working 24/7 to fight fires, we wouldn't have a threesome of coaches who graft tirelessly and relentlessly to improve, and as a consequence of those people coming in, we would not have a team to be proud of, competing at this level despite being subject to envious looks from other clubs.

We literally kept a coaching team and football team together when at other clubs with significantly less issues than we have, not only who stayed but play with pride for our club. This happens when a culture changes, and I defy anyone to dare suggest this would have happened under the last football department.

I drive from Cannock and Bucks RH, approximately 2 to 3 hours each way, around £100+ in diesel. I have a contract and I told Tom very early on that when everyone else is paid, then pay me. October was my last payment.

Brentford today called to play a friendly, the third time in weeks they want a game. Steve Cooper and Sean Dyche offered real support when we can go into the market again, along with dozens of clubs who love what Kev, the boys, John are doing. We're building a lot of demolished bridges, so that in the future, the groundwork is set. Scouts are working for free, agents are being calmed, players reassured, all things that several people are doing, unnoticed, unheralded but which are crucial if this club is going to move forward.

The financial situation as we know is serious and nobody is shying away from it, but do not confuse silence with inactivity. I work for other companies elsewhere so that Southend United can have my services for free until the situation improves. Not bad for "Ron's bitch".

Tensions are high, but we all want one thing, a happy, settled club, staffed properly, staff appreciated and ownership that pays everything on time in a manner befitting the history of this club. So nobody is doing Chemical Ali and saying on behalf of Ron that everything is OK, he knows the score from staff and players, but realpolitik dictates that we have to work within a structure today where ordinarily incompatible bedfellows have to work together for the security of the club. That is guaranteed from me whoever owns this club.

Support the team.
Support the staff.

If silence is the price to help keep Southend United alive, then I'll stay silent.

Canal Plus, Qatar World Cup, talksport, Caughoffside, Mirror Football all pay me so that you don't have to right now, something the 16 year olds shouting "talksport ****er" at Maidenhead might do well to remember. Likewise respect to the man in the picture below that helped your club before and came good when needed.

Stan.View attachment 24891

Well said Stan, and Thank you from me

 

[WestyReturns]

Everyone stay United and back the fans group, it's the only way we can win. RM will hate the media attention shining a light on his deceitful business shenanigans. Stay strong, stay united and lets get our club back.

Not sure Ron cares much for negative attention. He has no morals. Anyone who thinks they're entitled to have others serve them for nothing in return is a disgusting human.

 

[Barry.C]

There seems confusion about exactly whats still causing the embargo and whether it is to do with unfulfilled payments to other clubs or not. Either way it must be very frustrating for John still and Stan colleymore because any positive ideas, suggestions, players identified or PR must get instantly scuppered by the seemingly weekly crisis events that hit the team.
However, Stan did confirm in his post that he does get paid by southend but was waiting for the debt to get paid before asking Tom for it. Although this seems to contradict what he used to say about not taking money, it's probably a good thing, because he does some great PR things for the club and can't imagine hed walk away without being paid what he or his company is owed.

Thanks ITK for adding some further helpful clarity

Feel desperately sorry for Stan and Mr Still in these circumstances, but confirms via Stan himself that he IS on the payroll, although currently not requesting his pay. Also openly puts to bed the belief that Stan was for free, and why should he be given , his strong efforts on our behalf and helping bring about a major shift until Ronnies latest disaster

 

[JB Shrimper]

Stan always said he would take a paid role with the club not sure why people thought he wasn't. He has also been very vocal about not taking a penny yet until we can do so. He also states that he can only.comment on the playing side not the finances. However the finances are affecting the playing side so we should really hear something. The whole thing when Stan came in was about better communication but right now we are getting less than ever.

 

[Shrimper57]

Stan always said he would take a paid role with the club not sure why people thought he wasn't. He has also been very vocal about not taking a penny yet until we can do so. He also states that he can only.comment on the playing side not the finances. However the finances are affecting the playing side so we should really hear something. The whole thing when Stan came in was about better communication but right now we are getting less than ever.

Is this because something is brewing?

 

[Shrimper]

That’s literally what the Trust is

It's been explained so many times but he just doesn't listen

 

[Alexshrimper]

It's been explained so many times but he just doesn't listen

Not sure why your talking him down. Earlier in the week the trust said it want to work with Ron - let that sink in