FUMING Southend United fans will protest against Ron Martin’s running of the club ahead of Saturday’s National League clash with Eastleigh at Roots Hall.

Shrimpers supporters continue to fear for the future of the club who have until the start of March to generate enough funds to pay off a large HMRC bill.

And Blues fan Tom Gibson, who will be among those protesting, is adamant the club could cease to exist if Martin remains at the helm.

“The club will die if Ron stays,” said Gibson.

“It’s when not if now. He might get the bridging finance sorted in time for the next HMRC hearing but we’ll be here again and again until he pushes it too far and we get wound up.

“The last few times we’ve been in court we’re getting ever closer to the deadline until it’s sorted out.

“It’s only a matter of time now until he destroys the club.

“He’s had his chance and he needs to go.”

Blues have been in a transfer embargo since the end of September due to the HMRC winding up petition while office staff have been paid consistently late throughout the season.

Some staff members are still waiting to be receive their pay packets for December.

And that led to Gibson wanting to take action.

“The club has been slowly dying in front of my eyes for 20 years,” said Gibson.

“The final straw for me was staff not getting paid, it’s atrocious and completely out order, especially with the cost of living crisis.”

“Martin Out is the aim now, at all costs.

“As a supporter base I actually think we’ve shown a lot of patience considering everything that has gone on.

“We’ve seen how it would go and he said ‘ let me get on with my job and it will all be alright, if not I’ll walk’.

“But it’s not alright and he hasn’t walked.”

 Fears are now rising the Shrimpers could be placed into administration.

But Gibson believes that may not actually be a bad thing.

“I think we’re at the point now where even if the club did go into administration I don’t think it would be the worst thing in the world,” said Gibson.

“I can’t speak for all fans but we’d have an opportunity like Darlington have had.

“I read the interview in the Echo with a fan of theirs the other week and he said he’s had the best 10 years as a Darlington fan since they did go into admin and you’ve seen what Portsmouth have done too.

“But something needs to change because Southend United won’t survive if it doesn’t.”

Fans are therefore protesting this weekend and will meet at the Dickens pub at lunchtime before walking together to the ground.

Protests will then continue outside the ground before supporters will take to their seats 15 minutes into the match.

But Gibson was keen to stress there are no plans to disrupt the match.

“We won’t be going onto the pitch or anything like that,” said Gibson.

“I know there’s always going to be some doubts about whether or not it will work but we’re at the stage now where we’ve got to try something.

“We handed out leaflets at the Solihull game and the response was positive.

“I’m cautiously optimistic we will have good numbers on Saturday.”

Blues chairman Ron Martin has not responded to the Echo’s request for a comment.