SOUTHEND United chairman Ron Martin today said he had no plans to stand down as Blues boss.

Several fans had suggested over the past few weeks that Martin should make way for someone else to take the League One club forward.

They were fed up that no new signings had been made in the close season, that the club had missed out on signing of stiker Theo Robinson and that player of the year Peter Clarke had left Roots Hall.

But Martin has answered his critics and spelt out the current situation at the club.

“I have no plans to walk away having made a commitment to supporters, the council and not to mention the club’s management and staff,” Martin said.

“This is not a job for me — I do not get paid a salary by the club. It is an ambition, a creation, a totally absorbing venture from which Southend United and the town of Southend will greatly benefit a project whose complexities have been heightened tenfold by the economic conditions.”

In an open letter to Southend fans, Martin said the club did put an offer in for Robinson but manager Steve Tilson and assistant Paul Brush did not consider him worth the £200,000-plus that Swindon are understood to have agreed to pay Watford for him.

In answer to critics challenging him to make more money available for new signings, Martin said that success is not entirely about investment.

THREE recent letters to the Echo (two on Wednesday, June 17 and Tuesday, June 24) have sparked a reaction at this time. Some people have said “do not respond, it is not worth it”. Well if you care I am afraid ignoring such extraordinary naivety is not an option for me.

From day one I have been a strong advocate for information, keeping supporters informed about what is happening at their club and over recent months providing a weekly blog (emailed to some 31,000 people and included on the club’s website) covering every aspect of the club from football finances to who cuts the grass — and a good job Ken does as well!

This included a question and answer spanning several weeks in which I answered EVERY question put before me. However it seems the three Musketeers do not either receive, read or simply choose to ignore.

Talk to me, I have an open door policy. Supporters email me, I reply. If they ring I return their call. Many supporters have my mobile number, no problem.

Of course every fan is entitled to their view and free to publicise their opinion no matter how far off beam their thinking may be. My concern is that if their opinion is representative of hundreds or maybe even more then I am clearly wasting my breath and more importantly my time. Just picking up on a couple of the comments: Why can’t we buy Theo Robinsons if Brighton and Swindon can? Because Steve Tilson and Paul Brush do not value him at over £200,000. For supporters’ information the club agreed terms with Theo and his agent. Steve’s valuation was around £50,000 and later Paul said £70,000. We eventually offered £100,000 to Watford. It is not for me to disregard the manager’s view on player’s value whether I agree or not. If that was the right thing to do then next I would be picking the team — which I have never done.

Another point: “loosen the purse strings!” The club lost £2m being relegated from the Championship. I maintained, indeed improved, the wage bill available to Steve and Paul last season in an effort to return to the Championship. Southend wages are one of the highest in the league, certainly top six. Scunthorpe, who were promoted, are one of the lowest, certainly bottom six. Success is not entirely about investment. When we were last promoted from League One our football costs were half what they are now. We will post a similar loss this year. It is worth reflecting what relegation can do to a club. Of course I invested in the Championship and we have paid a heavy price coming out. Did you know Peter Clarke cost us £1m during his three year stay? Player trading is fundamental to football clubs and we need to do more so that PROFITS, not losses, can be reinvested. Who do you think makes up the shortfall, some fairy godmother? I am about to sort out another HMRC historic shortfall again this year of £691,000. Ted, wake up and smell the coffee before going into print.

Someone recently suggested Steve Tilson is “unhappy”. Well if he is then he did not show it during a three-hour dinner with me and Ricky Duncan on Tuesday!

D’Artagnan & co even suggested I should “step aside” and let someone else “get the club to the new stadium”. This is not a job for me — I do not get paid a salary by the club (incidentally nor does Geoffrey King). It is an ambition, a creation, a totally absorbing venture from which Southend United and the town of Southend will greatly benefit — a project whose complexities have been heightened tenfold by the economic conditions. Did you know that it was reported new lending in the last quarter on the commercial property from UK banks was ZERO?

I own over 70 per cent of Southend shares (incidentally all the funds raised in January 2008 share issue was invested in players), 100 per cent of the parent company and all the land. I have no plans to walk away having made a commitment to supporters, the council and not to mention the club’s management and staff. However if Ted “the long suffering fan” has a lot of friends then there is a phrase worth remembering… careful what you wish for.