Supporters Group News Supporters Group Statement and Q&A meeting with Ron Martin and Tom Lawrence. 28/03/2023

[BoyWonder2]

Interesting that there are no current talks ongoing with potential buyers. The amount if times people have said they know of potential buyers when the club wasn't for sale.

I wouldn’t read too much into that…

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

I feel sick reading this … I already can’t go anymore I’m trying to forget my love for the club and find other stuff to do for when the inevitable happens .. reading this just pulled another shroud of gloom on my shoulders the man is an absolute cancer and a cretin to us I despise him…

 

[Shrimper in France]

Not sure that anything he said will encourage me to renew my season card.

 

[Seedy Nigel]

This thread should be retitled "Delusional ramblings from a sociopathic compulsive liar"

 

[The General]

Doesn't read great to me! My main concern moving forwards in x amount of years is how this new "stadium/project" is going to keep the club "sustainable" over the course of a year. Considering Ron is always going on about losing 100k a month blah blah blah I don't see how those things will start covering the shortfall.

If the rent from the housing project was being used to fund the club, then I could totally see how that would keep the club sustainable but that's not going to be the case.

Short term wise, there are still a few red flags. Biggest one is the fact that the club is TOTALLY DEPENDANT on the season card money. Well thats fully on the club and RM. Theyve all been dicks for the past 6 months, minimal to zero comms, unrest amongst supporters and the management unable to recruit.

Things won't be getting any better whilst RM is leading the ship so nothing said there would convince me to ever buy a season ticket going forward. The pipedream of promotion is just that. A pipedream. With RM in charge this vicious cycle will continue. And whilst people fund him, it'll continue.

 

[Sunnyshrimper]

Interesting that there are no current talks ongoing with potential buyers. The amount if times people have said they know of potential buyers when the club wasn't for sale.

I’ll go out on a limb and allege that answer is utter BS by Ron, who no doubt tells himself another little ‘white lie’ won’t hurt until due diligence is done and everything is signed off with sale of club to another.

 

[Ricey]

Doesn’t give me the confidence or want to give my money over for a season ticket.

 

[Target man]

A lot of worrying aspects in this. In a nut shell, if season ticket sales were up, then in 4 weeks time the embargo would be lifted. Firstly that's a little bit late and already cost us the play offs, and secondly how long would that be for until the next?

What's the financial plan to see us through not just the summer, but to this stage of the season next year without further embargos killing another play off push. I think we'll be in this league for several years to come personally.

As with walking round the stadium with some fans to see what the fuss is about, is that really necessary??? Even Stevie Wonder could see the hazards!!! He just needs ro read the health and safety report, and look at the pictures on twitter! And having his sad backside on the premises just degrades it even more!!

 

[Lester Bangs]

It’s an awful time to be a Southend fan.

- Historic debts still unpaid. Season ticket money needed to settle them.

- Stadium plans can’t be altered so we’re left with a residential development as a main stand.

- No ongoing discussion with potential buyers.

- It appears the finance facility was a mere stop gap to clear HMRC debts and outstanding wages. It provides no long term security.

- Future rents will be paid to group companies who may or may not pass it on the club so there’s no guarantee regarding future cash flows.

- The clock is ticking on the date when interest and capital of the new finance facility will be due. Will investment arrive in time to meet these obligations or ideally settle the arrangement in full?

Personally I see no glimmer of light at all. It’s all so very disheartening.

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Ron bitching about the season cards. Who'd have thought ? Treat the fans like idiots and it'll be reciprocated with interest. Great to bring him to the table, make him answerable, well done guys.
The sooner we see the back of Martin the better.

 

[Sherif H]

Incidentally, Ron doesn't need to bring another PM on board to assess the state of RH. He needs a building surveyor and a seating specialist to conduct a joint conditions survey and total up an estimate for the bare bones repairs to drag us over the line for next season.

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

I wouldn’t read too much into that…

Very true and I wouldn't read too much of anything he has to say these days. But the mere fact he felt he was answerable to anybody in OUR club is a victory for those that love the club.

 

[Target man]

Ron bitching about the season cards. Who'd have thought ? Treat the fans like idiots and it'll be reciprocated with interest. Great to bring him to the table, make him answerable, well done guys.
The sooner we see the back of Martin the better.

Excactly right. Hopefully people will now see there are ways to draw him out and he's not too big to be affected by supporters actions. I hope now the board of directors will actually take their responsibility seriously and start holding him to account! And as much as I hold regards for TL, to say the club has been too busy to communicate is a joke. Communication is the most fundamental part of a business to succeed, and it's the hidden agendas, and silence, that has led to our position.

 

[Napster]

Incidentally, Ron doesn't need to bring another PM on board to assess the state of RH. He needs a building surveyor and a seating specialist to conduct a joint conditions survey and total up an estimate for the bare bones repairs to drag us over the line for next season.

Just make sure they’re accredited

 

[Sherif H]

Just make sure they’re accredited

I happen to be accredited and with 20 years in the seating industry but I won't expect a call any time soon!

 

[stortford]

So this is a business that needs its customers to pay for next year's purchases before it can finish delivering this year's product. And what will it use to deliver next year's product?

Surprised there's not been a suggestion of debentures yet - buy your seat at FF for the next 10/25/100 years (so we have some dosh for current running costs).

 

[Sunnyshrimper]

So this is a business that needs its customers to pay for next year's purchases before it can finish delivering this year's product. And what will it use to deliver next year's product?

Surprised there's not been a suggestion of debentures yet - buy your seat at FF for the next 10/25/100 years (so we have some dosh for current running costs).

I’m sure it’s crossed his mind, and that’ll probably be how he finances the 4th stand build. Buy a brick for £100 and we’ll put your name on it… Then if we don’t have enough bricks he’ll blame the fans, the builders and the brickmakers

 

[bazzashrimper]

So the season ticket bit does make sense. It’s our club. If we want it to run we need to help it get some cash. The problem is that we don’t trust Ron, and have no recourse other than use of a credit card an get some cash back if it goes bust.

More interesting is the going rate for rental of a modern day stadium being £300-400k. When the current rate, and since around 2000 despite inflation, for a slowly decaying old ground is £502k I believe. Of course that £502k is added to his debt and part of the £1m a year he pops in.

I just hope this mess doesn’t impact the sale. You can’t do business with the man. You have to buy it and own it yourself. Buy the club and pay £502k rental on roots hall… no thanks Ron. Buy the club and wait for the stadium to be built by Ron… no thanks Ron.

 

[Rayleigh boy]

i just dont believe word of the FF blarney ,,,

 

[Blue43]

So planning permission won’t be considered until probably at least the start of next season at the very earliest.

We still owe money to HMRC, the embargo won’t be lifted anytime soon, and for the few fans that will be mad enough to renew their season cards, that money will go towards paying off old staff wages, HMRC and other debtors.

Looks like we’re going to be left with a 3 sided stadium after all and when building works do eventually get under way the money released will be going to Ron Martins companies and it will be left up to him if he puts any of it back into the club.

You can stick your season cards up your arse Martin. No renewals until he’s gone for good!

We are in for a horrendous summer unless the club is sold very very soon.