10:28am Wednesday 10th March 2010
THE cause of the Blues’ immediate crisis is the sale, if that is the right word, of Lee Barnard.
He was a special player and might well have kept us up. Surely, we should have kept him until the end of the season. To claim that Barnard might not have given of his best had he been kept against his wishes is an insult to the player Ron Martin was horribly complacent, and the result is just two points since Barnard left, and we have no replacements, other than a couple of rookies who may prove to be useful in years to come, and an unwanted Colchester United reserve with a distinctly ordinary scoring record.
It has also not helped that the players are not being paid. Not many players would perform at their best in circumstances like that.
Paul Brush is the sacrificial lamb, paying the price for Ron Martin’s monumental blunder.
Nigel Blore Mercer Rd, Billericay, via email
AFTER reading the statement from our supposed chairman Ron Martin about Paul Brush all I can say is what a load of twaddle.
It’s penny pinching again.
Brushy has done wonders for the club and if Martin is not satisfied with the managerial performance he should replace Tilly as well or let the club go into administration on Wednesday, then sell off to the consortium who wanted to buy last time.
Who in their right minds can picture the Shrimpers with a 22,000 all-seater stadium when if relegated they might get a gate of 6,000. It beggars belief.
Times weren’t that special in the Vic Jobson era but they were better than now.
Perhaps if Ron boy had not been so greedy and kept Freddy Eastwood and a few more of his signings, including Lee Barnard, then we would be looking towards the Championship and not quite possibly the Conference in two seasons time.
One last point — you have seen how ruthless the chairman and directors are — I would be watching my back at all times and look for a more sure team to manage.
Graham Jones Long Lane, Grays, via email
I HAVE just been canvassed by the marketing department at SUFC looking for me to buy media packages.
Before I knew what I was doing I was complaining to the poor girl on the end of the phone about how I see the club at the moment (shooting the messenger!).
We are a family of four season ticket holders. On Friday we invited a pal to come with us to watch Charlton and he asked me to name the players.
Well three years ago I was able to identify with a team that we all knew, regular faces that were there every match as the team and I could name them all.
But on Friday I started to try and name the players and it was then that we all realised that most of them did not play for the team three months ago and those that played then are now not there now.
I also said to him that the players have to play different positions because of a shortage of regular players. He said then the only consistent position is Steve Mildenhall in goal then! This must explain why SUFC are at the wrong end of League One, he said!
He had never been to Roots Hall before and does not follow football very closely, which goes to show how we look to the outside footballing world.
When I am asked why SUFC are in financial trouble it is impossible to explain even as a supporter, because the chairman and his board will not share the this information with one of the most loyal supporting groups in the south east.
Then to read that the manager, the captain and the team are not now allowed to comment to the local press on any footballing matters is not good publicity for the club and in particular for the chairman who is exercising his control over the team and managers.
Why will he not come clean with the financial position, which is one of many contributing factors to rumour and press speculation? Surely the team and its loyal supporters deserve better.
It would be great to attend matches again with a consistent line up of team members that were playing for the whole season.
I guess we are lucky that Steve Tilson’s contract is not up or we would have temporary managers too.
Mr Hawkins (who sits in the West Stand) Leigh-on-Sea, via e-mail
Isn’t it about time that Southend United was run as a football club instead of a not very successful property company?
If the players are demotivated because wages aren’t being paid on time, and worrying about bills getting paid is, no matter how professional the players, at least, a distraction, and that effects results then the chairman should accept responsibility and make way for someone who can run the club successfully.
If tactics on the pitch are wrong then the manager should accept his failure and go.
It seems that firing Paul Brush is more of a sop to accountants by the chairman to demonstrate how Southend United plc is capable of saving money and less about the playing regime.
Vic Leach Westbury, Rochford, via email
I AM writing in response to the news of the removal of Paul Brush from his position at Roots Hall.
While the news is disappointing and also possibly ill-timed, I feel that as fans we need to get behind the team, the players, management and the club as a whole.
The club is in turmoil, no one truly knows what is going on behind the scenes with Ron Martin, the finances, stadium etc.
I’m sorry but after attending a majority of the games home and away this season performances on the pitch have not been good enough.
I firmly believe this is down to the size and quality of the squad and also the lack of tactical ability of the management team, especially Wycombe at home springs to mind. We have not kept a clean sheet for months and fail to capitalise on the few chances created up front.
I agree that morale must be low and the loss of Lee Barnard was massive.
I have never not been paid for two months and this must be a big worry, however, the players should be able to get the basics right.
Who knows what impact Brush going will have — we will truly find out in a few months time — but as fans we must focus on supporting the team and get behind them home and away.
Lastly, for all those fans who keep posting on Shrimperzone that they will not renew their season tickets and have had enough, just think about what you are saying.
Do you really feel that not renewing will help the club financially? No. Do you feel that not attending games will help? No.
I have supported the Blues for 32 years and have seen the bad times and the few good but have never thought about ditching them and not bothering anymore as true fans don't do that sort of thing.
So get behind the boys show them that we have a club worth fighting for on and off the pitch. Up the blues!
JONATHAN HUMPHREY Billericay, via e-mail
AS part of my business — Essex Car Rentals — I have struck of good friendships with several first team players at Southend United.
Over the years I have supplied cars to Adam Barrett, Alan McCormack, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Freddy Eastwood, but I now do that independent of the club due to the poor treatment I received from them.
I am also a shareholder and still speak to several first team players and know that it is a fact they have not been paid all of their wages.
They are still owed money for February and January’s money was paid by the PFA.
I will not name the players I have spoken to because they can’t break ranks, but I think it is time Ron Martin told the truth about the situation. I am speaking out for the fans as they have a right to know.
I can accept that financial times are difficult and I completely understand the predicament the club could be in, but that is not the problem as it would be fine to accept if Ron Martin was honest with the fans as it’s the club we love and care about.
Mark Coshever Rayleigh, via email
I agree with Chris Phillips’ thoughts in the paper and he knows more than the rest of us on what is going on at SUFC.
No doubt we will get to the bottom of the Paul Brush sacking and maybe even Ron Martin is right on this and Tilly needs a more aggressive deputy, but right now I am merely speculating like everybody else.
What I am sure of though is that Jean Yves M’Voto should not start in a game ever again this season.
Adam Barrett should play in his normal position and leaving Johnny Herd on the bench seems plain daft.
He played his socks off successfully before he was injured and I remember what a blinder he played in the home game against Gillingham.
He was my man of the match and how someone of his size could consistently out jump Mark Bentley is beyond me. He also brings a little extra with his long throws.
Were it me, I would slot him in as Alan McCormack’s replacement this weekend — he would not let us down I am sure and would be refreshing as he also loves to make forward runs to support the front men.
Danny Lovey via e-mail
HAVING supported Southend United for more than 30 years now I have only ever seen the club in such a mess once before — when the Reubens were in control.
What does Mr Martin think he will achieve by sacking Brushy? Tilson will be next and would have left already if he wasnt such a “Southend-Man” through and through.
I think Mr Martin’s continued contempt for us genuine supporters is despicable. He may have the club’s best interests at heart but has no idea when it comes to truly moving the club forward.
To achieve this you need a team for a start — everything else is secondary. A good team with good results and the supporters will keep coming.
It’s all very well being blinkered by the new stadium but we won’t need it if we are relegated.
Then we will still owe Sainsbury’s a whole load of money and things will only be worse, not better. Just admit it Ron, you have got the balance wrong and are too blinkered on the stadium to see we need a team to go in it! As for Tilson, I hope he stays but I think he will leave and I don’t blame him. Good luck to Paul Brush too, you and Tilly have been great.
Mr R Peachey Shoeburyness, via email
IT would appear that Gary Beard has a very short memory, re his comments in Views on the Blues (Tuesday, March 2).
Perhaps he was not at the FA Cup third round tie v Dagenham & Redbridge at Roots hall back in January 2008 when former blue Peter Clarke went down like a sack of spuds without being touched by Daggers goalkeeper Tony Roberts.
I wrote at the time that neither the linesman nor referee Bates saw the incident but still decided to give a red card to Robbo due to the antics of Clarke.
Never seen such a blatant bit of downright cheating Mr Beard?
You should have been where I was standing in January 2008, especially when Clarke came over for a last-minute corner and winked at the Dagenham fans.
Never mind he has since had his comeuppance at Huddersfield.
Adam Holt (Dagenham fan) Prince Avenue, Westcliff on sea
I WANTED to express my pleasure at the letter from Gary Beard that appeared in Views on the Blues last week with reference to Nicky Bailey, the Charlton captain.
He expressed everything I and many others would want to say on that despicable character’s actions in a way that I guess I would not have been able.
Bailey is the epitome of all that is wrong in football today As a very long-term supporter of the Blues this could be my chance to thank Steve Tilson for giving us all a wonderful last few years of watching football played as it should be played.
I sadly remember the type of football played before he took over the job.
Phil Rolls Fairfield Gardens, Southend-on-Sea
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