SUFC: The Future COSU scenario

[The Twelfth Man]

A possible scenario:
At the end of the season Southend have finished mid-table and not made the FAT final.
The dissatisfaction of some fans will have increased further.
COSU issue a statement saying we've now put over 8 million pounds of our money into the club - 5M paying off debts inherited from Ron Martin, 2M on covering annual losses inherited from RM and over 1M on Roots Hall and the new training ground needed due to RM's lack of investment for many years.
We are aware that many fans are unhappy with the direction of the club and that they believe we should spend our money differently and/or spend more of our money.
Given this disparity between COSU's vision for the club and that of many of the club's fans, we feel that we have no alternative but to ask for new investors and/or buyers to come forward.
If no genuinely interested and well-funded parties have come forward by the end of June 2025, we will cease funding the annual losses and put any further investment in Roots Hall and the Training Ground on hold.
How as a supporter of Southend United do you think you would react to such a statement?
Poll attached.

 

[Supershrimper]

A possible scenario:
At the end of the season Southend have finished mid-table and not made the FAT final.
The dissatisfaction of some fans will have increased further.
COSU issue a statement saying we've now put over 8 million pounds of our money into the club - 5M paying off debts inherited from Ron Martin, 2M on covering annual losses inherited from RM and over 1M on Roots Hall and the new training ground needed due to RM's lack of investment for many years.
We are aware that many fans are unhappy with the direction of the club and that they believe we should spend our money differently and/or spend more of our money.
Given this disparity between COSU's vision for the club and that of many of the club's fans, we feel that we have no alternative but to ask for new investors and/or buyers to come forward.
If no genuinely interested and well-funded parties have come forward by the end of June 2025, we will cease funding the annual losses and put on hold any further investment in Roots Hall and the Training Ground on hold.
How would as a supporter of Southend United do you think you would react to such a statement?
Poll attached.

Is this in preparation to soften the blow in the future Justin aka @The Twelfth Man lol

 

[TrevorFitzpatrickHattrick]

This is what equates to market research these days?

 

[rlb999]

There is a wider question here - we don't break even, so COSU are currently putting money in each year - what will happen when COSU decide they don't want to do that any more.

It's a question that most fans don't care one hoot about until it's actually happens - at that point they'll be furious. There were very few complaints on here when Ron was running the 5th largest wage bill in league 1 (allegedly) - only when the money ran out.

 

[Firestorm]

I , for one, would not be particularly surprised

 

[Medway Blue]

Sad, but unsurprised, I guess?

 

[Holy Joe]

I'd be surprised - as (a) I think they'll have read the room wrong, (b) they're in for the long term and (c) they should have thicker skins.

Regarding (a) I suspect it's a vocal minority that are unhappy, the majority are ok for this season.

I think Justin has said the design of COSU means members will come and go - perhaps some will leave if the financial commitments turn out larger than expected. But the whole of COSU leaving - I'd be disappointed.

 

[Suomi Shrimper]

There's just no way COSU puts out a statement like this.

First, if they want additional investment from new members, they have enough reach between them to find it without putting out a begging bowl at the gates for all and sundry to see.

Second, why would they basically apologise for spending money on facilities and debts instead of a transfer budget? Justin has been pretty clear (and I think has even said outright) that while regaining FL status is a top priority, without Wrexham levels of investment in the playing staff you're looking at trying to achieve that within five seasons, not within one. Every investor will have put their money in on the basis of that medium-term plan.

As a football club, of course we want the team to be playing better, winning more and making a robust challenge for promotion. But if you're an investor and business owner, and your football department is saying they missed all the best value for money targets before you even took over, then it makes a lot more sense to put more of this year's budget into improving commercial opportunities and your bricks and mortar assets than to spend it on two-year contracts for crocks, rejects and cast-offs 5 or 6 names down your manager's wish list.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Fair do’s
How’s about we sign 2 strikers in Jan, who score freely, we move up the table, get to Wembley and get in the playoffs

1: super happy
2: not bad
3: would’ve done it under Rat’s stewardship anyway

 

[mattytheshrimper]

Unless I'm missing something I see no reason why COSU would do this? Are you insinuating that COSU are getting criticised and this would be the reason behind such a statement? If so, surely they knew not every fan would agree with every decision they make, it's called life. I don't even think they've received much criticism, more praise than anything.

I personally think they've done everything they said they would so far and its thanks to them we have a club to support still. Did some think they'd sign a million players and we'd smash the league, yes, but it's those fans who are deluded. COSU never said they'd do this, in fact they pretty much said that's exactly what they said they wouldn't and couldn't do. In fact they said we want unearth gems in the lower leagues, nurture and improve them, and then sell them on for a profit. Exactly what happened with Cardwell, to an extent. Bad news is the current crop, other than Gus, don't really show any potential to go on to bigger and better things whilst earning the club a bit of money in the process.

The main aim for COSU is to get us on a solid financial footing, something that seems to be going in the right direction. There's also been a steady amount of small positive changes around the ground and you'd imagine the West is bringing in more money now, what with more food being purchased and drink being much easier to access, whilst being a lot nicer too.

We all know the East is the money earner which needs to be rebuilt but based on what I've read that seems a long way away and most probably reliant on Ron's money which I doubt will ever actually come. That does worry me.

The playing side of things this year has been poor in terms of quality, recruitment and entertainment in general. That hasn't surprised me too much, albeit I didn't expect it to be as boring as it has, but I did predict a mid table finish. This isn't a criticism of COSU but I do think the recruitment has been really bad this season, other than Bim Wind and maybe the odd exception, the rest have been pretty damn bad. I know the embargo didn't help with that but I still hoped for a better standard of player. Based on a quick Wikipedia search the past evidence shows a lack of goals and poor injury record for most, sadly that's proved to continue with us. So did our recruitment team just have their fingers crossed or is there something else going on? Since the influx of Cards, Miley, Gus etc etc coming in a few years ago we've not really signed very good players since, so it's been going on for a while now.

 

[Benjamin]

Very much Doubt this will happen cosu have as much to loose as us they’ve pumped serious money into the club and the way I see it they get the club to break even get roots hall up to scratch with the 12 million they’ll get then sell it for a profit and everyone’s a winner

 

[Shr1mperBlue]

What a daft thread.

 

[Hampshire Shrimp]

What a daft thread.

Unless The Twelfth Man is Elon Musk

 

[Supershrimper]

Unless The Twelfth Man is Elon Musk

Wouldn't want him anywhere near the uk let alone our club.

 

[Hadleigh-shrimper]

I’d be shocked as no indication . Is this just made up tripe?

 

[HertfordshireBlue]

Does this scenario include whether onions are still on burgers?

 

[bazzashrimper]

I want COSU to put the club into a safe footing and follow through on their plans. If there is supporter dissatisfaction, this is normal.

Ultimately, it’s a balance. People will choose to buy tickets if they are entertained or more likely if we are winning. The cost of supporter dissatisfaction is less income.

That’s the price of running a football club and I’d be sad and disappointed if COSU hadn’t realised that. I think they do though so I think (hope) the question is moot.

 

[united we stand]

I can’t believe I have wasted my time reading this pointless thread. - I clearly need to get out more

 

[BARNETBLUE]

A possible scenario:
At the end of the season Southend have finished mid-table and not made the FAT final.
The dissatisfaction of some fans will have increased further.
COSU issue a statement saying we've now put over 8 million pounds of our money into the club - 5M paying off debts inherited from Ron Martin, 2M on covering annual losses inherited from RM and over 1M on Roots Hall and the new training ground needed due to RM's lack of investment for many years.
We are aware that many fans are unhappy with the direction of the club and that they believe we should spend our money differently and/or spend more of our money.
Given this disparity between COSU's vision for the club and that of many of the club's fans, we feel that we have no alternative but to ask for new investors and/or buyers to come forward.
If no genuinely interested and well-funded parties have come forward by the end of June 2025, we will cease funding the annual losses and put any further investment in Roots Hall and the Training Ground on hold.
How as a supporter of Southend United do you think you would react to such a statement?
Poll attached.

Must have had nothing better to do than speculate about COSU IMO.

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

Bart