Southend United appear to be in for another miserable summer as the takeover battle for the club continues. Despite signing contracts before Christmas last year, the group led by Justin Rees has yet to gain power from Ron Martin.
Last season, the Shrimpers finished ninth despite a ten-point punishment imposed early on for nonpayment of HMRC bills. This resulted in a transfer embargo, under which manager Kevin Maher operated for over half of the season.
The embargo has been reinstated since May 17th due to ‘non-compliance with National League regulations’, leaving the management team in uncertainty as they prepare for the next season.
The transaction is being held up between Southend City Council and Martin over the Fossetts Farm Development. Originally intended for a new stadium, the 70-year-old now owns the site and wants permission to build houses.
Not helped by the fact that local elections were held despite cross-party support, the council has now informed supporters that the building element of the site was agreed upon. Due diligence on the part of those in elected office appears to be no closer to a resolution, leaving everyone involved with the club in the waiting game.
Stewarts Law’s winding-up order was recently extended for six weeks due to unpaid payments from Martin, ironically for the club’s earlier defence.
Creditors have been extremely patient in waiting for funds to be released while the sale is being completed, with Rees’ consortium issuing a statement a week ago expressing unhappiness with the time it has taken thus far.
Having invested in the region of £3 million or more to keep the club running and workers paid, patience is wearing thin on the part of those paying the bills, raising concerns among supporters that the longer time passes, the better Martin’s chances of keeping the club.
Meanwhile, Maher and his team are once again working with one hand tied behind their back until they can freely sign players, raising the possibility that targets will be in the hands of rival teams very soon.
After a successful National League season, the Shrimpers had high hopes of regaining their footing and competing for a return to the Football League.
It is now up to both the council and Martin to ensure that Southend United not only survives and keeps its more than 100-year legacy, but also has the opportunity to grow on the excellent work of its management team.
The club is due back in court at the end of June, at which point Rees must be in permanent charge of the club, or the Shrimpers risk spending the new season in administration or, worse, not at all.
