Southend United fans protest against chairman Ron Martin (From Echo)

It was pathetic. There were 100 max 'fans'. They challenged Ron Martin to come out and face them, which he did. He then got called w*****r again and again, wasnt given a chance to speak and subsequently left.
A roughy respectable demo turned into a farce as the mob couldnt stop swearing at the Chairman.
Nice one - great waste of time.

Thought it was a good protest! All we wanted was answers. I dont no what Evo_lution is talking about. Even the players came out and agreed on how we felt! UTB!

At a time when everyone should be pulling together what does this kind of protest achieve? I expect these are the so called "die-hard supporters" who are quick to abuse a player the minute a pass goes astray or a chance is missed. The kind of people who would not be satisifed if we had won the Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League. Who want to find fault with everything the club does or try to uncover some hidden agenda. If I was Ron Martin I wouldn't waste my time even trying to talk to them they aren't interested in what he has to say and would lack the intelligence to understand the economics of the situation anyway. Forget the romantic idea of mystery consortiums saving the club and instead have some patience with the people running the club who are doing their best to secure the long term future of the club via the new stadium.

Up the Blues!

Think the main question for our Ron to answer, is:- Will The Blues be fullfilling it's fixtures next season in Div 2?

"Southend Utd".....a complete and utter SHAMBLES.No other description can be more apt on this dreadful situation.
How and for how long did the Club get into this financial situation, the tax not paid and in fact the club insolvent ? Who is responsible? How much money has been "lost" by some pretty awful purchase's in the last few years ?
In this state can anyone expect many players to want to stay with the club for any longer than they have to ? Perhaps too, Steve Tilson may be ruing the opportunity he had after the "promotion " year/s ? As I say...a dreadful shambles.

I am delighted that there are fans that are prepared to demonstate against Ron Martin. As a season card holder I have been extremely disappointed at the way the club has been run this season, which is 100% down to Ron Martin. We have 5,000+ season card holders and average crowds of around 8,000, the 9th highest in the division which generate sufficent income to allow us to be comfortable in League 1, yet we are 22nd in the division and look doomed to be relegated. I really feel for Steve Tilson as there has been a complete lack of investment in a properly sized first team squad of full time players of the quality required, which has meant us having to field sometimes two or three players out of position, & a number of mediocre loan signings when we haven't been under a transfer embargo. We sold our best player in the January transfer window and to cap it all we haven't paid the players on time on numerous occasions. This is why we are 22nd and the buck stops at Ron Martin's door. Full stop.
Off the field matters have been equally shambolic. I have mentioned the shoddy payment of the players, also we can add the staff of the club as well. On top of that we have had to go cap in hand to the PFA, the Shrimpers Trust, Sainsburys and anyone else that can be taped to keep us afloat. We have only just survived 2 administration hearings and three winding up order petitions brought by HMRC (it wouldn't surprise me if our legal bill is probably equal to the money received for Lee Barnard, if we have paid it!!). Southend United has been somewhat of a joke, constantly mentioned in the media for the wrong reasons.
The dream of the vast majority of fans is to support Southend is the new stadium at Fossett's Farm. However it becoming increasingly obvious that the stakes are now very high as Ron will not consider selling the club or putting it into administration so that a new buyer/consortium can come in and run the club albeit with a 10 point deduction if it's in administration. We are now left with the prospect of either having a brand new stadium in a few years time with Ron Martin or going into liquidation and ceasing to exist, if Ron Martin pushes his luck once too often with creditors.
I come back to my original statement and feel the fans have every right to demonstate against Ron Martin as his actions seem currently more for personal gain rather than for the benefit of a club with a proud 104 year history.

I have to agree wholeheartedly with what Eastwoodman says. You talk a lot of sense.

Why don't fans realise. Everything is going according to Plan. Ron Martin is basically a small time asset stripper, who until it is too late for the Blues does not want anyone to know what he is getting up to. He does not care and never did care about football. This is probably the best opportunity he has ever had to strike it rich. Of course on the surface he wants it to look as if he has tried everything to save the Club he has ruined. I imagine it is a little like waiting for an old aunt to die so he can claim the inheritance. All the land he owns will be far more valuable to him without the Blues. Sainsbury's will build their Super Store at Roots Hall, after all, they have already paid the 2 million + Tax Bill. He will then submit Plans for a new, smaller development consisting mainly of Flats were the Stadium should have been. There are those who argue that he would never get planning permission without the Stadium. I think otherwise. For a start there would probably be no Public objection, no need to build a new major road also the Government is desperate for new housing. It may take a couple of years but he will get there. He won't have to prove to fans that Blues can achieve at a new Stadium what they could not at Roots Hall. Dave Web mentioned on the Radio that Ron Martin had approached him for help (financial) within the last month and that he had "Put Ron (whom he likes very much) in touch with some very important financiers but unfortunately they were not interested in football." Just think how much easier it would be for Ron without the Blues. Finding wealthy backers would not be a Problem.

Ron Martin has systmatically dismantled the 'Team That Steve Built', he has totally undermined every effort the management have tried to reinforce the team, he has failed to support the players by not aying their wages, he has allowed a director to insult and belittle the players, now he has started to try to dismantle the management team by sacking brush and bringing in Webb who i am sure Tilly didn't want. Now Tilly is being blamed for the performance on the pitch, he cannot bring in any loan players as we are under an embargo because the PFA had to pay player wages. Having said all of this i don't think we should be asking for "Martin Out", he is our only chance of a furure, we should be asking Martin for total honesty and total clarity, we should be asking Martin what support, if any he is willing to give to Tilly and the team, i bet we will not get clear answers. In my opinion Martin hates the fact that Tilly is loved, and he himself is hated, this is why he is doing all that he can to make Tilly's position untennable. Shame on you Ron Martin.

And the point of building Fossett's Farm stadium for a team that will soon be in the 4th Division is what, exactly?
May just as well pocket Sainsbury's money and rent a pitch at Southchurch Park for next season, Ron.

god almighty you cant say you did not see this comin i warned a year ago how this would go and i was dead right ronnie boy is just a greedy,conning,ba***
*d who thinks of nobody but me ,myself and i having been a supporter for 45 years how sad that this club has had to go down this line,we had the same when vic and others where here but at least you knew vic was a cheating ba****d he never hid behind words and promises lol up the blues

I am not a ron martin supporter but at least he had the guts to go out and face the small group. However, he has not managed to convince anyone he is going to solve the problems. My view, wait till the day before the next court hearing if we are going to be relegated go in to administration take the 10 point hit, if it looks like we can stay up, pay the bill and hope for the best for nexty season!!