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Ron Martin: Taxman tried to 'unglue' Southend United

5:21pm Sunday 22nd November 2009


SOUTHEND United's boss has accused the taxman of trying to ruin the club.

Ron Martin, chairman of the Blues, claimed the HM Revenue and Customs' attempt to place the club in administration over a £2.1 million tax debt could have spoiled everything fans loved about the team.

Last month, the Echo reported that the HMRC wanted to put the club into administration over £690,000 tax debts, a figure which was later to revealed to be around £2.1 million.

But no action was taken after the club settled the debt.

Mr Martin claimed the HMRC had only been concerned with protecting Government coffers and did not care about the club.

Writing on his blog, he said: “As football supporters we are all cursed with a genetic propensity for moaning, but the taxman's efforts to unglue all that is good about our wonderful club was beyond the pale."


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Your Say YourEcho

evilc, essex says...
5:38pm Sun 22 Nov 09

The man is an idiot if you owe tax it is simple:

'You owe Tax'

Everyone knows that they estimate the bill and you have to prove your innocent.

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roots4ever, southend says...
7:54pm Sun 22 Nov 09

Just back the chairman he has never let us down, and if he goes what happen's then. If the consortium was to take over would they be in it long term, as Ron Martin has been so far.

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emcee, Southend says...
7:58pm Sun 22 Nov 09

The only blame here lays with those who were responsible to pay due taxes and did not do so.

The taxman was doing his job.

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SARFENDMAN, Rayleigh says...
10:15pm Sun 22 Nov 09

One law for us lesser honest paying tax mortals and another for Honest Ron? Seems fair enough.

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152, Rochford says...
10:52pm Sun 22 Nov 09

the HMRC had only been concerned with protecting Government coffers and did not care about the club.

Good.....thats their job, and its yours to protect the club. Don't blame them for your own failure.

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perini, Leigh on Sea says...
1:32am Mon 23 Nov 09

Simples Ron - pay the bl**dy tax bill when it's due!!

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The Southend Observer, Southend-on-Sea says...
10:43am Mon 23 Nov 09

I have to echo the comments of 'Rochford', above. This is a rather vain attempt to deflect responsibility.

"Mr Martin claimed the HMRC had only been concerned with protecting Government coffers and did not care about the club." - No Mr Martin, it is not the responsibility of HMRC to care about Southend United, that is the role of the Chairman and directors.

It is HMRC's job to collect outstanding taxes, which in the case of VAT, amounts to sums of tax that have already been paid over by SUFC's supporters and other customers when they have bought match tickets, merchandise and hospitality packages etc.

It doesn't suggest very prudent management if the Club is surviving by living off its tax obligations!




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bilbyboy, Basildon says...
12:33pm Mon 23 Nov 09

Nope it is not April 1st, must be some other strange reason for this, ah i know, it's a stunt for children in need. Ron we all have to pay our taxes, maybe everyone who reads this story should vote on who is wrong here, i am sure that just this once HMRC would come out on top. This man really does believe that he was hard done by, he has already admitted that he was using the taxman as a bank, ok, so you have been found out and you have to pay. Maube in support of Ron i will refuse to pay my taxes from now on, maybe Ron will come and bail me out, but i won't hold my breath. Ron you were/are wrong, now get real and face it. UTB.

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Wakeringlad, Great Wakering says...
1:18pm Mon 23 Nov 09

No, Mr Martin. YOU would have ruined Southend United. We all have to pay taxes. Delaying the payment of taxes is a dangerous game. I doubt it will work again!

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Comments are closed on this article.

Ron Martin - backing manager Steve Tilson Ron Martin - administration attempt "beyond the pale"


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