COLLYMORE -MARTIN SUMMARY

[Evening Echo]

FORMER Southend United star Stan Collymore has met with Shrimpers chairman Ron Martin this afternoon.

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[davewebbsbrain]

Hi Guys

Had a 2pm zoom face to face with Ron for 50 minutes.

It was open, honest, friendly and as you'd hope from me, your concerns and thoughts along with my own were expressed and reaffirmed throughout.

There were no no go areas and extensive contemporaneous notes were taken.

My offer to Ron was as follows.

1. To use me as conduit for Ron and the club to build and maintain bridges with supporters, dealing with clubs where bridges have been broken, a face of Southend United to meet parents and potential young players who we should be looking to recruit, offering football advice and solutions to the club structures, media, supporters, local business, council and to Ron, daily.

2. To arrange a meeting with Ron and I and a potential CEO that I have in mind as a matter of urgency to allow Ron to concentrate of FF, council and allow a football structure to take shape immediately to allow the club and team to get out of the blocks with the aim of an immediate Football League return.

I am delighted to say that Ron's candour was refreshing, he acknowledged that help was needed and that a unification of the club was his desire. He asked me about the CEO, and how quickly could we all meet which was incredibly encouraging.

I put to him the suggestion that as a 23 year owner of a football club, which we all agree isn't easy, Ron should utilise his energy in ways that can achieve the FF project, with the football business on and off the pitch being run by a competent CEO with me to be an advisor, titled or not, formal or not. A guardian football angel for the benefit of Southend United Football Club.

Ron wants to explore both immediately as a matter of urgency.

So I will contact the CEO I have in mind today, wait to hear from him and should he be willing to meet Ron, I will facilitate that within meeting to happen in Ron's words "within days". As I said to you guys, I'll drive the guy myself if I have to!

What would I see my role as? Like Mark Bright at Crystal Palace who advises Steve Parrish, I'd offer my experience and knowledge and contacts to build bridges with you guys, have a clear and transparent relationship with your club and its structures, to sometimes say ( as I said in the meeting with Ron) "Ron, hold fire on Mark Molesley in any statement, we may want this guy in 5 years time!", to give a face to recruitment of the best kids in the region to play for this wonderful football club, to vet manager's and football staff to make sure the football vision is realised and to support everyone at the club including Ron, to take things from their plate rather than add to them.


So Ron wants to meet me, the potential CEO all together ( should the CEO want to, time commitments willing, usual terms and conditions apply etc etc) in the coming days, with a view to moving the conversation and potential solutions quickly.

I believe Ron when he says he wants the best for the club but as I said to him, sometimes new energy, new voices, help and assistance from other quarters is all that's needed to get back on track. Ron asked me what time I could commit and I said "as much as the club needs me to commit".

I hope that helps in the short term, I promised I'd offer practical help to Ron and the club and I have. Next step is to get this potential CEO in front of Ron, I'll sit outside with a bag of chips and a cuppa and then I'll go in to continue the "how can we move this forward " conversation.

I can only take anyone in face value and Ron seemed to be open to all suggestions which would enable a sustainable football club to progress. We all have a role to play now to ensure that happens.

Out of tiny acorns, great oaks shall grow.


Unity, transparency, sustainability, progression.


Stan Collymore

That is more than anyone could ever hope for. What you are doing for Southend United is over and above anyone could ever expect and for that you have my unswerving respect

 

[Jai]

Thank you Stan. I had been concerned that Ron would have just closed ranks, but I don't think there has really been much doubt that he wanted assistance.

To give the chairman the benefit of the doubt, he hasn't been well and I suspect he has a lot on his plate with his other businesses and really it needed someone who could open doors to come crashing in and making things happen because as we all know the football club has been neglected for some time.

So Stan you have already had an impact and if you can be the conduit for change that is needed, we will all be incredibly grateful. This is an encouraging first step.

 

[TrueBlue]

Protest still going on then or waiting to see what happens here?

Post 7 ?????

 

[Pak Power]

I'll get the chips !

 

[RHB]

It goes without saying that this is a great opening step forward Stan (@stan collymore ), so thanks beyond measure for the time and effort you have put in thus far. One area that is giving me a little nagging twitch concerns the necessary finances for all of this to move forward. No one works for free, (unless you're me doing what Mrs RHB directs), so did you and Ron chew over any financial thoughts? I only ask, as our experience of CEOs and Ron has often ended in tears and more over the years and my understanding is that our money pot is troubled. This is not a negative post, but a little more insight would be really helpful.

Thanks again Stan.

RHB

 

[Microbe]

Post 7 ?????

And 17!

 

[dannypav]

Thank you Stan for your excellent work in getting things moving and starting a dialogue with RM - it is what is needed and really hope progress is made.
As others have said , there are many hurdles and concerns to overcome where the Chairman is concerned and without wanting to be too pessimistic , let's firstly see his response to the meeting.
Whilst not doubting your words at all , there have been too many occassions where Rons 'interpretation' is very different.
Anyway , thank you once again.

 

[Ottos left foot]

Thank you again Stan. A fast moving development regarding the structure is a must and I’m so pleased that you see this as a first requirement. I have more hope now than I’ve had in years regarding a football orientated CEO being appointed. Early days, but with you as the guardian, we can make things happen. All the best.

 

[Roberts83]

Bit unsure about this ...
soundn to me a bit like Rons done his old bull**** trick again ?
Thought part of this was to ask.
1, would you sell the club, if so how much......
2, would you consider an 51% fan ownership in order to protect the club in the future?

Hope I’m wrong but sounds to me Stan has been played!?

Nevertheless thank you Stan for you help and understand you have to give him this chance before we can move on.

just think most fans are a bit sick of the sight on him by now!?

 

[Brett Angle]

Spot on Stan. Definitely think we should take him at his word for now as his interests and our interests have always been broadly aligned.

If it all works out and you can commit to something along the lines of Mark Bright that will be fantastic.

Without jumping ahead, with the trials and tribulations of the last few years, never mind the empty stadiums due to Covid - it would be great if we can all help come up with an affordable model that would see us regularly have 8,000+ gates in the NL made up of record number of season tickets, accordingly affording the Manager the best playing budget in the League and a well organised away support that saw our allocation sold out more often than not to cheer the boys on.

A negative could be turned into a positive here through joined up thinking, that could have an immediate impact in terms of our ability to return to the EFL within the next two seasons, bigger and better supported than before. Lets capture the spirit of Wembley every week, home and away!

 

[Streaky]

Well done @stan collymore this is the sort of reaction we had hoped for. I love the idea of you being a guardian angel!

Fair play to Uncle Ron, for accepting that he needs help - not the easy for anyone.

Lest hope he stands by his words

 

[Rob1920]

Good stuff, let’s hope Ron sticks to his word. At the end of the day he’s a businessman and even he can’t deny where we are now constitutes a massive failure from the top. Things have got to change.

 

[TrueBlue]

Spot on Stan. Definitely think we should take him at his word for now as his interests and our interests have always been broadly aligned.

If it all works out and you can commit to something along the lines of Mark Bright that will be fantastic.

Without jumping ahead, with the trials and tribulations of the last few years, never mind the empty stadiums due to Covid - it would be great if we can all help come up with an affordable model that would see us regularly have 8,000+ gates in the NL made up of record number of season tickets, accordingly affording the Manager the best playing budget in the League and a well organised away support that saw our allocation sold out more often than not to cheer the boys on.

A negative could be turned into a positive here through joined up thinking, that could have an immediate impact in terms of our ability to return to the EFL within the next two seasons, bigger and better supported than before. Lets capture the spirit of Wembley every week, home and away!

Now now Simon don’t get too excited

 

[Barling Magna]

On behalf of SOS thank you Stan.... But....

PROTEST STANDS FIRM we will not allow any diversionary tactics to be used by the club, that’s not to say that this dialogue can’t be built on

I agree with you as it stands but there is a possibility that events may move at a rapid pace (I doubt it, but you never know). If that should happen in a positive way I hope you will consider cancelling the protest even if it's only a day or so before the Newport game.

As I say I doubt that this will be necessary and I expect the need for the protest to remain, I just ask that you remain open to cancellation should Stan's efforts bear fruit.

 

[Footiegirl]

Hi Guys

Had a 2pm zoom face to face with Ron for 50 minutes.

It was open, honest, friendly and as you'd hope from me, your concerns and thoughts along with my own were expressed and reaffirmed throughout.

There were no no go areas and extensive contemporaneous notes were taken.

My offer to Ron was as follows.

1. To use me as conduit for Ron and the club to build and maintain bridges with supporters, dealing with clubs where bridges have been broken, a face of Southend United to meet parents and potential young players who we should be looking to recruit, offering football advice and solutions to the club structures, media, supporters, local business, council and to Ron, daily.

2. To arrange a meeting with Ron and I and a potential CEO that I have in mind as a matter of urgency to allow Ron to concentrate of FF, council and allow a football structure to take shape immediately to allow the club and team to get out of the blocks with the aim of an immediate Football League return.

I am delighted to say that Ron's candour was refreshing, he acknowledged that help was needed and that a unification of the club was his desire. He asked me about the CEO, and how quickly could we all meet which was incredibly encouraging.

I put to him the suggestion that as a 23 year owner of a football club, which we all agree isn't easy, Ron should utilise his energy in ways that can achieve the FF project, with the football business on and off the pitch being run by a competent CEO with me to be an advisor, titled or not, formal or not. A guardian football angel for the benefit of Southend United Football Club.

Ron wants to explore both immediately as a matter of urgency.

So I will contact the CEO I have in mind today, wait to hear from him and should he be willing to meet Ron, I will facilitate that within meeting to happen in Ron's words "within days". As I said to you guys, I'll drive the guy myself if I have to!

What would I see my role as? Like Mark Bright at Crystal Palace who advises Steve Parrish, I'd offer my experience and knowledge and contacts to build bridges with you guys, have a clear and transparent relationship with your club and its structures, to sometimes say ( as I said in the meeting with Ron) "Ron, hold fire on Mark Molesley in any statement, we may want this guy in 5 years time!", to give a face to recruitment of the best kids in the region to play for this wonderful football club, to vet manager's and football staff to make sure the football vision is realised and to support everyone at the club including Ron, to take things from their plate rather than add to them.


So Ron wants to meet me, the potential CEO all together ( should the CEO want to, time commitments willing, usual terms and conditions apply etc etc) in the coming days, with a view to moving the conversation and potential solutions quickly.

I believe Ron when he says he wants the best for the club but as I said to him, sometimes new energy, new voices, help and assistance from other quarters is all that's needed to get back on track. Ron asked me what time I could commit and I said "as much as the club needs me to commit".

I hope that helps in the short term, I promised I'd offer practical help to Ron and the club and I have. Next step is to get this potential CEO in front of Ron, I'll sit outside with a bag of chips and a cuppa and then I'll go in to continue the "how can we move this forward " conversation.

I can only take anyone in face value and Ron seemed to be open to all suggestions which would enable a sustainable football club to progress. We all have a role to play now to ensure that happens.

Out of tiny acorns, great oaks shall grow.


Unity, transparency, sustainability, progression.


Stan Collymore

Wonderful, Stan. Thank you so much & hopefully something will be done. You are a star

 

[TrueBlue]

I agree with you as it stands but there is a possibility that events may move at a rapid pace (I doubt it, but you never know). If that should happen in a positive way I hope you will consider cancelling the protest even if it's only a day or so before the Newport game.

As I say I doubt that this will be necessary and I expect the need for the protest to remain, I just ask that you remain open to cancellation should Stan's efforts bear fruit.

This is the thing. History is repeating itself, cautiousness is the way forward

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Hi Guys

Had a 2pm zoom face to face with Ron for 50 minutes.

It was open, honest, friendly and as you'd hope from me, your concerns and thoughts along with my own were expressed and reaffirmed throughout.

There were no no go areas and extensive contemporaneous notes were taken.

My offer to Ron was as follows.

1. To use me as conduit for Ron and the club to build and maintain bridges with supporters, dealing with clubs where bridges have been broken, a face of Southend United to meet parents and potential young players who we should be looking to recruit, offering football advice and solutions to the club structures, media, supporters, local business, council and to Ron, daily.

2. To arrange a meeting with Ron and I and a potential CEO that I have in mind as a matter of urgency to allow Ron to concentrate of FF, council and allow a football structure to take shape immediately to allow the club and team to get out of the blocks with the aim of an immediate Football League return.

I am delighted to say that Ron's candour was refreshing, he acknowledged that help was needed and that a unification of the club was his desire. He asked me about the CEO, and how quickly could we all meet which was incredibly encouraging.

I put to him the suggestion that as a 23 year owner of a football club, which we all agree isn't easy, Ron should utilise his energy in ways that can achieve the FF project, with the football business on and off the pitch being run by a competent CEO with me to be an advisor, titled or not, formal or not. A guardian football angel for the benefit of Southend United Football Club.

Ron wants to explore both immediately as a matter of urgency.

So I will contact the CEO I have in mind today, wait to hear from him and should he be willing to meet Ron, I will facilitate that within meeting to happen in Ron's words "within days". As I said to you guys, I'll drive the guy myself if I have to!

What would I see my role as? Like Mark Bright at Crystal Palace who advises Steve Parrish, I'd offer my experience and knowledge and contacts to build bridges with you guys, have a clear and transparent relationship with your club and its structures, to sometimes say ( as I said in the meeting with Ron) "Ron, hold fire on Mark Molesley in any statement, we may want this guy in 5 years time!", to give a face to recruitment of the best kids in the region to play for this wonderful football club, to vet manager's and football staff to make sure the football vision is realised and to support everyone at the club including Ron, to take things from their plate rather than add to them.


So Ron wants to meet me, the potential CEO all together ( should the CEO want to, time commitments willing, usual terms and conditions apply etc etc) in the coming days, with a view to moving the conversation and potential solutions quickly.

I believe Ron when he says he wants the best for the club but as I said to him, sometimes new energy, new voices, help and assistance from other quarters is all that's needed to get back on track. Ron asked me what time I could commit and I said "as much as the club needs me to commit".

I hope that helps in the short term, I promised I'd offer practical help to Ron and the club and I have. Next step is to get this potential CEO in front of Ron, I'll sit outside with a bag of chips and a cuppa and then I'll go in to continue the "how can we move this forward " conversation.

I can only take anyone in face value and Ron seemed to be open to all suggestions which would enable a sustainable football club to progress. We all have a role to play now to ensure that happens.

Out of tiny acorns, great oaks shall grow.


Unity, transparency, sustainability, progression.


Stan Collymore

That's a really positive step. Are there any potential sponsors you could link us up with as Ron's bound to be struggling with cashflow?

I also love the idea of you being an ambassador for our club. Just imagine some young player undecided as to whether to go to Southend or a league club and them meeting with you, a former British transfer record holder, to tell them that you wouldn't have reached the top without Southend and how your days at Southend were the happiest of your career.

Ron's lost the trust of the fans but you have the trust of the fans. He needs your help.

 

[TrueBlue]

Spot on Stan. Definitely think we should take him at his word for now as his interests and our interests have always been broadly aligned.

If it all works out and you can commit to something along the lines of Mark Bright that will be fantastic.

Without jumping ahead, with the trials and tribulations of the last few years, never mind the empty stadiums due to Covid - it would be great if we can all help come up with an affordable model that would see us regularly have 8,000+ gates in the NL made up of record number of season tickets, accordingly affording the Manager the best playing budget in the League and a well organised away support that saw our allocation sold out more often than not to cheer the boys on.

A negative could be turned into a positive here through joined up thinking, that could have an immediate impact in terms of our ability to return to the EFL within the next two seasons, bigger and better supported than before. Lets capture the spirit of Wembley every week, home and away!

Oh btw still waiting for you to tell us why Ron owes you money ......

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

Stan, thanks for the time and effort you have made and hopefully will continue to make in the future. Keeping the arboreal metaphor, I hope it blossoms into something useful and positive for the club. Quite honestly I'd settle for a healthy oak sapling at the moment. If planted correctly its natural organic growth will follow.