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

[in the know]

Found it quite revealing.
I got the impression he's protected himself and his future fortune should the club go under.
He's taken the club to the absolute brink of being wound up this time, falsely stated he's injected enough working capital to see the club through when in reality we need future income to pay more historic debt.
Nothing's been fully paid off.
Seems to me hes leaving the club to rot under an embargo that will continue unless fans risk buying season tickets for a club that could easily get wound up and they wouldn't see a penny.
I don't buy a season ticket, so I'm not qualified to express what others should do. But if I was, I know what I'd do.
Well done for gaining the information, but I found the answers insulting to the support that's been given.

 

[Chairman Trigg]

We as a club are on the edge,and a vast number of supporters have no faith left in anything Ron says or does.Without a serious new face coming along quickly and providing some optimism and finance the future looks grim The statement does nothing to give me confidence to buy another season ticket at present.

 

[The General]

Also I see this was a 2 hour meeting, so I appreciate some things may have been para-phrased but I still believe the supporters "groups" should have held firm with their original stance and not shifted from their initial position. Theyve KINDA backed down but not fully. They are sitting on the fence a little bit for me. Could be wrong but thats how it comes across.

 

[Yer Blues]

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.

Know anyone who might be able to do it for a reasonable price?

 

[Sherif H]

There is a simple solution to all of this -

Know anyone who might be able to do it for a reasonable price?

Loads of people. The Club will do things their own way though...or more likely just ignore it for another season.

 

[Dutch Branch]

I mentioned on here on another thread that I think the season ticket money also plays a integral part of servicing that bridging loan and if thats the case and Ron defaults on that too then i would assume that the lender would have some kind of foreclosure agreement in the contract. However, I’m sure tonight’s performance and the last 6 are more about the past has finally caught up with us, can’t keep flogging a dead horse no matter how big the stick.

 

[Yer Blues]

There is a simple solution to all of this -

Loads of people. The Club will do things their own way though...or more likely just ignore it for another season.

Tounge was firmly in my cheek

 

[Medway Blue]

There is a simple solution to all of this -

Loads of people. The Club will do things their own way though...or more likely just ignore it for another season.

Well there was a stage when RM pretty much laughed at the prospect of supporters chipping in in the way that he now seems to be suggesting, so that's a small improvement. Maybe they'll be more open now. Might be worth dropping the Trust a line mate, see if you could join the walk around at RH.

 

[Sherif H]

Well there was a stage when RM pretty much laughed at the prospect of supporters chipping in in the way that he now seems to be suggesting, so that's a small improvement. Maybe they'll be more open now. Might be worth dropping the Trust a line mate, see if you could join the walk around at RH.

I'm exhausted at trying to help mate - if people want me to get involved I will, but I'm done begging to offer experience and alternative solutions where they aren't appreciated. I know of other professionals in associated fields who feel equally disaffected.

 

[The Late One]

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!!

The last time Ron met with fans on the terraces it didn’t go to well !!

 

[The Late One]

So initially before the 22/23 season they wanted people to pay by cash or bank transfer as if fans paid by credit card they would only get the money drip fed from them credit companies as the games were played (rumoured to be because of bad credit history), before they allowed card payments at a later stage. So now they have hiked up the price, will take credit cards from the off, what has changed ?? Unless the card companies are happy to give “honest Ron” the money from the off, how is it of any use fans buying ST’s and how can they say that they will use this money to pay off debts before a ball is kicked in the 23/24 season ?.

 

[nick12]

Great so no one gets paid until we all stump our season ticket money, RM really is fantastic at spin, he has managed (or at least tried to) deflect all the blame away from himself as usual and on to the supporters.

Has he ever considered if the supporters who pay all their wages and his annual consultancy fee want a new 3 sided stadium crammed into the corner of a huge housing estate? Personally I would have preferred Roots Hall be updated and maintained, it's part of our heritage, a stadium for the fans built by the fans and our home.

As none of us get to see the accounts as they are 3 years behind on submission I would like a full explanation as to where all the income goes? He is always claiming he has put millions in to SUFC yet so many other NL clubs survive with 1/4 or less of our income and many are currently more successful on the pitch than we are, how? Why?

If he wants us to pay up then for once be honest, open and transparent so we all know where we are because right now I am not prepared to pay for a season ticket to line RM's pocket when we are still in massive debt and under a transfer embargo and therefore potentially still in danger of administration and I am certainly not paying a 30% increase so will just pick and choose the games I go to next season instead.

He hasn't won me over quite the opposite he's annoyed me even more

 

[stewart]

Call it blackmail call it what you want, but seems to me both TC and RM told you a truth ,I dont think they had any intention of blackmailing anyone ,and before anyone tries to say im an RM lover ,im not. What they have said is that season ticket money is needed to see the club through the off season ,to get the club out of the embargo so JS, Kev and co can do their jobs off season, now its up to the supporters there whether they buy season tickets or not. Fact remains unless we get a new owner before next season ,without the season ticket money there is a possibility there may not be a Southend United Football Club .

 

[Kat_r]

Great so no one gets paid until we all stump our season ticket money, RM really is fantastic at spin, he has managed (or at least tried to) deflect all the blame away from himself as usual and on to the supporters.

Has he ever considered if the supporters who pay all their wages and his annual consultancy fee want a new 3 sided stadium crammed into the corner of a huge housing estate? Personally I would have preferred Roots Hall be updated and maintained, it's part of our heritage, a stadium for the fans built by the fans and our home.

As none of us get to see the accounts as they are 3 years behind on submission I would like a full explanation as to where all the income goes? He is always claiming he has put millions in to SUFC yet so many other NL clubs survive with 1/4 or less of our income and many are currently more successful on the pitch than we are, how? Why?

If he wants us to pay up then for once be honest, open and transparent so we all know where we are because right now I am not prepared to pay for a season ticket to line RM's pocket when we are still in massive debt and under a transfer embargo and therefore potentially still in danger of administration and I am certainly not paying a 30% increase so will just pick and choose the games I go to next season instead.

He hasn't won me over quite the opposite he's annoyed me even more

He’s a spiv
I used to object to that word as I deemed it classist but that’s what he is

 

[Strykr]

Good questions from the trust,

Just a shame about the answers.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

As none of us get to see the accounts as they are 3 years behind on submission I would like a full explanation as to where all the income goes? He is always claiming he has put millions in to SUFC yet so many other NL clubs survive with 1/4 or less of our income and many are currently more successful on the pitch than we are, how? Why?

This is exactly what I have been saying for years. We had about 6 home games in a month and yet nothing got paid? Where does it all go?

 

[MountainDrew]

So are the trust sticking with “hold off on purchasing season tickets?”

 

[Swiss Tony]

He’s a spiv
I used to object to that word as I deemed it classist but that’s what he is

Certainly not a lovable spiv like private Walker eh?

 

[WestyReturns]

This makes me less likely to get a season ticket. I'll be waiting until ownership changes. If it doesn't I'll just buy by game. Its very easy to do online and print at home.

 

[Maldon Shrimper]

So eventually the supporter groups have got RM to the table and at long last answered the questions we all wanted answered.We may not like what he has said but we now know.So if you want to watch the team play at the Hall you have 3 options firstly you buy a season ticket and get a cheaper daily price or you dont and pay the higher price and go as and when or you dont attend at all.Its your decision