THE Shrimpers Trust are exploring ways fan involvement can form part of the club’s future ownership structure.

Serious concern surround the future of the club who have until the start of October to pay off their debts to HMRC or be wound up.

The Trust have been working to find ways to ensure Blues can survive.

And they have today submitted a proposal for community ownership of Roots Hall.

A Trust statement confirmed: “The Shrimpers Trust, which represents more than 1,000 supporters of Southend United Football Club, will today submit, after discussions with Anna Firth MP and Southend-on-Sea city councillors, an Expression of Interest to the Community Ownership Fund (COF).

“This fund, administered by the UK Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), could help us to bring ownership of the freehold of Roots Hall Stadium and its facilities into the hands of those who value it most – our local community of Southend-on-Sea. “ But the Trust see the proposal is about more than securing the Shrimpers’ future.

The statement added: “The Expression of Interest will let DLUHC and the Government know that our community is serious about keeping and enhancing Roots Hall, about fulfilling its potential as a pivotal community asset, and about realising all of the opportunities and positive influence that it can bring to the health and wellbeing of the local community and economy. “It lays out how this could happen and what those opportunities look like and, if successful, the partners will be invited to make a full application for financial support.”

The application forms part of an extensive project to explore all avenues available to increase the role that supporters play in the security and long-term sustainability of the Shrimpers.

And the Trust have also looked at ways other clubs are run.

The statement said:”There are multiple success stories involving greater fan ownership and community stadium models, with the most well-known and recent being Brentford FC’s Brentford Community Stadium.

“The Expression of Interest allows us to work with DLUHC, bid writers, specialist consultants and to call upon the fan base to bring their skills and resources to the table.

It will allow us to actively explore how fan investment models could help form a new ownership structure for Southend United, and how community involvement in the stadium might benefit not only the club, but the wider City of Southend-on-Sea. “ However, the Trust stressed they would not be looking to take over the club.

They added: “As things stand, the Shrimpers Trust does not intend to attempt to buy the football club, and we have no desire to block the pathway for anyone that would deliver a fit and proper ownership model.

“We do, however, believe that meaningful fan involvement should form a crucial part of that future ownership model.”