AFC Southend-Its now a possibility

[Csboy]

Mentioned we could end up having to reform the club on a while a go here but was shouted down and told it would never come to that but now its becoming a real possbility. If Ron continues to drive the club into the ground I can't see another outcome.

If in a years time we find ourselves in the conference with Ron in charge and no players still, Tilson would have left by then then I can see us fans being so fed up we will form our own club.

Chester are a very good example of what could happen. The Owners there destroyed the club causing all the players to leave and the fans were so fed up with what was happening at the club that they got Chester wound up and to start again even if it mean't playing in the bottom tier of Non-League Football. The advantage that Chester have is that their ground is council owned and the council are more than happy to lease it back otherwise there would be no income and they can keep in with the fans.

Wimbledon also did the same but the advantage they had was they have some very rich fans who helped them buy Kingstonian's ground and made AFC Wimbledon financially secure.

If AFC Southend were born we would likely have to groundshare with Canvey or Billercay to start with as Roots Hall will be sold off to Sainsburys and Wakerings Ground would not be able to cope with 1000-2000 Southend fans every week

I hope AFC Southend doesn't happen but if things carry on as they are it could happen.

 

[TrueBlue]

Mentioned we could end up having to reform the club on a while a go here but was shouted down and told it would never come to that but now its becoming a real possbility. If Ron continues to drive the club into the ground I can't see another outcome.

If in a years time we find ourselves in the conference with Ron in charge and no players still, Tilson would have left by then then I can see us fans being so fed up we will form our own club.

Chester are a very good example of what could happen. The Owners there destroyed the club causing all the players to leave and the fans were so fed up with what was happening at the club that they got Chester wound up and to start again even if it mean't playing in the bottom tier of Non-League Football. The advantage that Chester have is that their ground is council owned and the council are more than happy to lease it back otherwise there would be no income and they can keep in with the fans.

Wimbledon also did the same but the advantage they had was they have some very rich fans who helped them buy Kingstonian's ground and made AFC Wimbledon financially secure.

If AFC Southend were born we would likely have to groundshare with Canvey or Billercay to start with as Roots Hall will be sold off to Sainsburys and Wakerings Ground would not be able to cope with 1000-2000 Southend fans every week

I hope AFC Southend doesn't happen but if things carry on as they are it could happen.

Put it this way as hard as it could be I would be with you on this one mate.

Only as a last resort though.

 

[Onion_Bag_Dave]

I'd bring my boots a long.
Let's hope we don't need to think about this!
It would be successful though, I'm sure most would be up for it.

 

[fredheim_holm]

Put it this way as hard as it could be I would be with you on this one mate.

Only as a last resort though.

Seconded. If this is what it came to I'd support an AFC Southend, I couldn't support anyone but my team, either in this carnation or another.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Where would AFC Southend play? The only possibility is southchurch park and I have no idea what the conotations are of Southend Manor playing there already.

 

[MisterStubbs]

i would certainly support this if it happened (obviously hoping it dont) i would bring my boots a long as well, to wear the blue shirt of a southend team would be a dream come true :)

 

[southend4ever]

Brilliant!

Still some way off I think!
There is somewhat of a buzz supporting a team lower down. I spent a season following my old uni mates around the the South and East of England home and away the year after I left Uni when I was out of work. Would run up and down the touchline, shout at the team and opposition and slowly there become a few of us and it was good banter and a good day out.

This really highlighted to me that the main thing you want to see is passion!!

I would definitely be in for supporting AFC Southend.

 

[mattytheshrimper]

rememeber there are 3 sz teams. so thats gives a us a bit of a head start. plus they have members who are used to running a team financially aswell. so that can only help us.

 

[Csboy]

After the events of today AFC Southend looks even more likely. I know there are still some fans who think things will turn out alright but unless Martin is bought out the club is going to die. We will be bottom of the League with no points. Crowds will be under 2000 and after that a season in the Conference would be an even bigger joke.

 

[fredheim_holm]

rememeber there are 3 sz teams. so thats gives a us a bit of a head start. plus they have members who are used to running a team financially aswell. so that can only help us.

Are the SZ teams in the football league system, as in, if they got promoted 10 times would they be in the football league? Just asking as I don't know.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Seconded. If this is what it came to I'd support an AFC Southend, I couldn't support anyone but my team, either in this carnation or another.

What about this one?

 

[mattytheshrimper]

Are the SZ teams in the football league system, as in, if they got promoted 10 times would they be in the football league? Just asking as I don't know.

i don't know. I used to play for them 2 seasons ago but I always thought they were very well run and a good group of players.

What my point was though was that the people who run that do have some experience of running a small club. can only be a plus to help us out.

 

[Col.U. Mad]

I like that stuff :) Have it with me coffee and me tinned peaches ;p

 

[Mr. Benedict]

Are the SZ teams in the football league system, as in, if they got promoted 10 times would they be in the football league? Just asking as I don't know.

No, they're in a Sunday league which is pretty much seperate from the main league system. They'd have to get a senior standard pitch - i.e. one with a turnstile and spectator facilities such as a pitch barrier amongst other things - and start playing in one of the leagues that are part of the national league system (like the Essex olympian league) to start moving up the footy pyramid.

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

What will happen I fear is this:

- Sturrock and Widdy will get a bit to spend from some spurious source.
- Some fleeting initial success for a month or two could then well follow.
- But meanwhile, having spun another plate to get Sturrock some cash, Martin fails to pay another bill to someone important like HMRC
- HMRC are well vexxed, they have no love for us now, and indeed it now borders on hatred. They make sure this time they get us put out of business in spite.
- Not one shovel has disturbed the ground at Fossetts, and bereft of any more options Martin has to call it a day and go bankrupt.
- Through some legal complexity due to Martin's tangled web, administration and selling on SUFC is not an option, the Football League kick us out and we are gone.
- Sainsbury's get Roots Hall and within two years crates of cheap lager are standing at the spot Freddy took that free kick.

The above is not an unlikely series of events. Martin has taken us to the brink too many times, his options are running out and spinning plates only works if you have enough friends to help you with the spinning. Martin is losing friends not gaining them, and Geoff King does not have the stamina to help keep spinning (or even start).

I really hope I am wrong and that in three years we are all sitting in Fossets watching Moyet conduct the opening ceremony before we ***** all over Ipshite Town 5-0 in our opening match of our return to the Championship. Even then though I won't be thanking Martin - he did not have to do it the way he has so far, and even if he achieves his aim we will always be looking over our shoulder. Instead I would say a little verse of thanks to Tilly, Adam and others who had SUFC at their heart.

Either way, the only solution as I see it is for Martin to go now, and restore a little bit of dignity by conducting an honourable sale to a group with SUFC interests at heart.

Even if by some miracle we lift the Champions League trophy in years to come, if Martin is still at the helm he would be well advised never to walk round the pitch seeking applause. He will not get it.

 

[number11]

i don't know. I used to play for them 2 seasons ago but I always thought they were very well run and a good group of players.

What my point was though was that the people who run that do have some experience of running a small club. can only be a plus to help us out.

They would have to look to start playng Saturdays and enter the Borough comb at the bottom of the pyramid. From there you would have to apply for Intermediate League (Olympian), for which you have to have a self contained pitch. From there the Senior League, then the bottom of the Rymans equivalent.

If an AFC Southend was formed then with some campaigning and beg steal and borrowing of facilities, you might get a leg up a few of the levels, but its a long haul. (Based on Aldershot and AFC Wimbledon, a 10 year minimum period?).