Pre-Match Thread HMRC v SUFC - FINAL hearing on 1st March. DISMISSED

[brigg blue]

It’s an easy thing to do when your club is fighting for its life! Denial can be a strong thing, took me weeks to accept we fell out of the football league

I still don't accept our relegation from L1, mathematically we could have stayed up!

 

[BoyWonder2]

Certainly happy to withdraw that remark, but given the current state of our poor club under this toxic regime, I cannot find ANY logical reason why anyone would have even the tiniest positive thing to say about “that person” ……. EVER.
In my defence, I did say that I hoped that wasn’t the case, and after 50+ years of devotion to SUFC, I find it utterly and truly depressing…….which of course is a mental health issue too. Please accept my apologies……perhaps I could have phrased it a bit better, but sometimes on here, the truth has to be told.

Thank you for doing that, some of the stuff on here recently has been awful to read. I know tension is running high, and people are worried, but to mock mental health, cancer and rape victims too has been unnecessary. They are just the ones I’ve seen.

Surely, even the most strongest RM opposers can say something positive about RM, even if it dates back quite a while. And even the most positive RM backers, of which I’ve not seen a single one, can admit to the wrong doings of his ownership.

I don’t know why everything has to be completely black and white these days. You don’t seem to be allowed to see pros and cons in things anymore, and that’s not just SUFC related, it covers everything, and something I’ve noticed more recently.

As I said, RM has made terrible mistakes in his tenure, and I don’t believe him to be a fit and proper person to run our club anymore, however during his reign there have been many positivities too.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I don’t know why everything has to be completely black and white these days. You don’t seem to be allowed to see pros and cons in things anymore, and that’s not just SUFC related, it covers everything, and something I’ve noticed more recently.

Exactly. Middle ground seems to have disappeared.

 

[Holy Joe]

Exactly. Middle ground seems to have disappeared.

I blame social media - it's too easy for fringe, vocal extremists to get an outsized platform. The relatively silent middle appears 'lost'

 

[Maidstone Shrimper]

Beyond being hard of thinking, or maybe having some mental health issues, ( and I hope that is not the case ) there can be no logical reason for anyone to defend him or his toxic ownership of this great club.

I’ve read some pretty unpleasant posts on Shrimperzone but this has to be one of the worst so thank you for the apology. The vitriol we see on here is so sad because, despite what some would have us believe, I’m sure 99% of us are anti-Ron and pro-SUFC. We differ on the best way and time to get rid of him. For my part, I can’t see how disruptive protests now would cause Ron to sell/bring in another investor in the next 39 days. It may make us feel better that the negative publicity would make him squirm and at least we did something but, as has been said endlessly, he’s not going to willingly sell up this close to his dream coming to fruition as nobody in their right mind would make him an offer he can’t refuse at this moment … or I’d suspect they were Anton Johnson MkII. There is more danger of it having a negative effect on the team’s performance on the pitch and for what?

There will be a time for concerted pressure on Ron to get up and go and hand over control of the club (to the right person!) under terms that give them a fighting chance to make it work. If the club survives 1st March and we get at last to Fossetts then that would definitely be the time in my opinion. I know not everyone agrees and thinks that’s too late. I understand and respect that.

 

[kentblues]

I blame social media - it's too easy for fringe, vocal extremists to get an outsized platform. The relatively silent middle appears 'lost'

“Lost” and put off contributing…which is particularly sad

 

[rootshall rambler]

Thank you for doing that, some of the stuff on here recently has been awful to read. I know tension is running high, and people are worried, but to mock mental health, cancer and rape victims too has been unnecessary. They are just the ones I’ve seen.

Surely, even the most strongest RM opposers can say something positive about RM, even if it dates back quite a while. And even the most positive RM backers, of which I’ve not seen a single one, can admit to the wrong doings of his ownership.

I don’t know why everything has to be completely black and white these days. You don’t seem to be allowed to see pros and cons in things anymore, and that’s not just SUFC related, it covers everything, and something I’ve noticed more recently.

As I said, RM has made terrible mistakes in his tenure, and I don’t believe him to be a fit and proper person to run our club anymore, however during his reign there have been many positivities too.

Very fair and balanced , and I happily take most of your points on board........I might be tempted to ask ......"were the better times in spite of him, rather than because of him".? ...... but thats for another day.

I just want to outlive this toxic regime and see the back of it once and for all.

I'll keep on the statins till then !!

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

I realised today that we are at home for the next 4 Saturdays - that should really help the cash flow issues in the short term.

 

[in the know]

From what I heard in the last few hours, the financials are a done deal and sorted.
It may be that with 5 home games coming up, drawdown is being delayed until absolutely the last minute, or maybe funds haven't officially been released yet. Either way, from what I hear, the concerns can now be more or less put aside and hopefully the atmosphere at roots hall will flourish if we're treated to more good games.
It was always 'get to Feb and we'll be ok', and with the run of home games and financials sorted, we can get back to focusing cheering the lads on. Southend fans are particularly good at that both home and away.

 

[RHB]

From what I heard in the last few hours, the financials are a done deal and sorted.
It may be that with 5 home games coming up, drawdown is being delayed until absolutely the last minute, or maybe funds haven't officially been released yet. Either way, from what I hear, the concerns can now be more or less put aside and hopefully the atmosphere at roots hall will flourish if we're treated to more good games.
It was always 'get to Feb and we'll be ok', and with the run of home games and financials sorted, we can get back to focusing cheering the lads on. Southend fans are particularly good at that both home and away.

Thanks for the update @in the know, it's good to hear positive news of that sort and provided it materialises it will put a lot of supporters minds at rest. It won't change our feelings towards Ron, but it may make the Zone a little less toxic than it has been over the past few weeks.

 

[Maidstone Shrimper]

From what I heard in the last few hours, the financials are a done deal and sorted.
It may be that with 5 home games coming up, drawdown is being delayed until absolutely the last minute, or maybe funds haven't officially been released yet. Either way, from what I hear, the concerns can now be more or less put aside and hopefully the atmosphere at roots hall will flourish if we're treated to more good games.
It was always 'get to Feb and we'll be ok', and with the run of home games and financials sorted, we can get back to focusing cheering the lads on. Southend fans are particularly good at that both home and away.

That's very encouraging news. I hope that if the drawdown is being deliberately delayed that's not at the cost of staff being paid ... and rewarded as promised. Hopefully the income from the next 5 home games will be used to that effect sooner rather than later.

 

[Blue43]

There are ALWAYS people who will lend money, the terms are just much more in the lender's favour - that's why as individuals, it's best not to use loan sharks.

As to building costs, well, actually they've fallen considerably since last year, so that may well work in the development's favour.

Ron is NOT going to sell now. The case WILL be dismissed at the next hearing.

How can you be so sure that he will find the money? It’s obvious he hasn’t been able to so far and do you know for a fact Ron won’t sell now?

In the past yes there have been lenders out there who will always lend money but with the cost of living crises that’s now changed. Loan companies are being a lot stricter when it comes to lending money, especially with the sort of money Ron needs to borrow.

Not sure where you’ve read building costs have fallen in the last year? I work in the building trade and can tell you they have continued to rise considerably which is making the industry tougher and tougher every day.

Rising cost of materials will be biggest challenge in 2023, UK builders say

A new report assessing industry views on the year ahead found that UK builders believe the rising cost of materials will be their biggest challenge in 2023

www.pbctoday.co.uk

 

[Holy Joe]

From memory I think it says a 20yr lease has to be signed with Southend United or another club

Here's part of the exact wording regarding use by Southend or another club

" (b) Phase I including the provision of the new Football Pitch, the erection of the east, west and southern stands with seating to accommodate no less than 13893 spectators and Supporters Way is built out fully in accordance with the permission(s) granted and subsequently made available for use whether by Southend Football Club or any other Club to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning or Head of Planning and Building Control;"

Later in the document it mentions a min 20yr lease and safety certificate must be produced to satisfy the condition.

 

[Holy Joe]

From what I heard in the last few hours, the financials are a done deal and sorted.
It may be that with 5 home games coming up, drawdown is being delayed until absolutely the last minute, or maybe funds haven't officially been released yet. Either way, from what I hear, the concerns can now be more or less put aside and hopefully the atmosphere at roots hall will flourish if we're treated to more good games.
It was always 'get to Feb and we'll be ok', and with the run of home games and financials sorted, we can get back to focusing cheering the lads on. Southend fans are particularly good at that both home and away.

What makes you confident on the financials - I think you mentioned a few weeks ago, funds had arrived, which, with the benefit of hindsight appears not to have happened, whats changed?

 

[tommy tucker]

What makes you confident on the financials - I think you mentioned a few weeks ago, funds had arrived, which, with the benefit of hindsight appears not to have happened, whats changed?

Who ever when ever the money will be released .To dig the club out of the hole its in at present .Haveing loaned cash before all be it not on the scale the club need .It took quite a few weeks for contracts to be signed before the funds were released to my bank .I guess this will be the same .Maybe the funds are there but it takes time .So hopefully we will get some good news soon .

 

[meerkat54]

Great if the funding is agreed. But nothing is concluded yet.
Until then the jury is still out, as they say.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Maybe the funds are there but it takes time .So hopefully we will get some good news soon .

And a statement from the club, would be appreciated as well?.

 

[in the know]

What makes you confident on the financials - I think you mentioned a few weeks ago, funds had arrived, which, with the benefit of hindsight appears not to have happened, whats changed?

just posting what I heard @MattE. Not sure I previously posted funds had actually arrived (if I did I'm happy to be corrected). I think I have previously mentioned funds were expected in Feb without knowing what part of feb, and my concern for quite a while has been making it to Feb financially. It seems by the skin of our teeth we are thankfully going to make it.
The way it was told to me left me feeling there was no reason to worry about not having the funds for hmrc and wages etc. Plus, if it wasn't known that issues were now able to be resolved , I'm not sure the team would have travelled up last night to stay over at probably a fair cost to the club.

 

[Murkey_Mouse]

Yeah Ronnie ‘playing 6 at the back’ whelan! Terrible choice of manager….. then Alvin Martin came along !!!

Both was the reason why Vic Jobson was ruined at the end.

 

[Kat_r]

One of the conditions of the planning permission on Roots Hall is that a new stadium, with at least the capacity of Roots Hall, is completed.

No new stadium = no development at Roots Hall

I get that. But surely if the club dissolves then that point becomes redundant. I guess that would test whether the council are truly behind the club. I’d like to think it would remain but there’s so much pressure for housing I just don’t know.