Paul Sturrock

[Sandbach Shrimper]

You can moan about Ron and financial problems all you like but at the end of the day he has supported Sturrock in the transfer market and allowed him to build up a squad. Take last January for example, Ron gave him a bit of money to spend and we bought Dave Martin and Benyon... Sturrock did a great job in his first 2 seasons, rescuing us in his first season and coming within 1 point of automatic promotion last season. However this season results and performances at home have not been good enough. Football's a results business and 1 point out of 3 home games against 3 teams near the bottom is just unacceptable I'm afraid. This isn't some Venky-esque knee-jerk reaction. Ron's given Sturrock effectively 2 seasons to get promotion and it's not been achieved. If you look at the squad on paper it should be higher in the league than it is. Admittedly injuries have played their part but Ron has allowed Sturrock to get loans in when this has happened. I agree it should've been left until after Wembley. We now have a strange situation whereby the new man will have 2 games and then the sacked manager will come back for one game - has that ever happened in before? It'll give a slightly sombre edge to the occasion and it's a bit of an awkward situation, will the new man still be there? We like to do things differently at Southend... but at least this gives time for the new man to get to know and assess the squad before the summer. I've got a lot of respect for Sturrock as a man and as a manager and I'm grateful for what he's done here but maybe the time's right for a change. Can't say I'm particularly enthused about the prospect of Phil Brown (you have to question someone who's been out of work for 2 seasons) but let's get behind him hey. Ron's here to stay whether we like it or not. And despite the shocking punctuation, most of what he said in his "statement" is actually fairly accurate.

 

[Andyhsufc]

You deserve our thanks for working under tough conditions (particularly in the first season). At times when the club appeared to be falling to bits around you with embargos, numerous CEOs and the stalled stadium, you offered stability. Good luck for the future!

 

[teabee1]

I think the 'club statement' is actually very good, and as much as I like Paul Sturrock, I believe it was time for a change. Wembley has complicated the issue, but no one can really say that performances since the end of the unbeaten run have been acceptable. Yes we have been unlucky with injuries etc but, we just looked like we had run out of ideas.
if anyone can be bothered, take a look at Matt Le Tissier's twitter account, plenty of positive comments on the openness of the statement.
I am sorry it didn't work out for Paul.

 

[Tommy Dunc's Warren]

Top man top manager thank you for all the hard work done over the last 3 seasons been very exciting...! good luck in the future be it at another club or giving up on the game

 

[shallowshrimper]

I remember our first few games without Tilly at the helm when most of our old favourite players had departed, that many of us felt that our Southend United had gone forever. Indeed iirc in our first match against Stockport I only knew two players, Grant for us and Conlon for them.

Now once again it is OUR Southend United we support, with new hero's and villains already part of Southend folklore.

Many thanks to Paul Sturrock for all his work and effort, he came very close to promotion last season but sadly not close enough. This season he leaves us with a Wembley visit to savour and remember.

Very best wishes for the future Paul:sad:

 

[shrimptank]

Paul,
Thank you for taking the time to speak to my little boy on the platform at Chesterfield rail station a couple of years back. He was only 4 but remembers it still. You spoke to me about your team, and that you liked the honesty of your players. I hope the honesty they showed u then continued for the whole of your tenure.

You did do well to keep us in good shape and alive in footballing terms, against the constant behind the scenes shenanigans that has blighted us for quite some time now.

We look forward to Wembley for the first time ever as a result of your management style and key decisions, albeit riding of luck too at times.

All the best, and thanks.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I think the 'club statement' is actually very good, and as much as I like Paul Sturrock, I believe it was time for a change. Wembley has complicated the issue, but no one can really say that performances since the end of the unbeaten run have been acceptable. Yes we have been unlucky with injuries etc but, we just looked like we had run out of ideas.
if anyone can be bothered, take a look at Matt Le Tissier's twitter account, plenty of positive comments on the openness of the statement.
I am sorry it didn't work out for Paul.

If people think it's good, then they can only be commenting on the content rather than the way in which it's written!

 

[Maidstone Shrimper]

Paul you’ve given us many good moments and high expectations when a few years ago I feared extinction for our club. You’ve been honest with a great sense of humour and have even covered the back of our “out of his depth” Chairman. He may have given you a “high budget” but he’s pulled the financial rug from under you at crucial times. We’ve been close to promotion and now have a day at Wembley … how many fans of League 2 clubs would envy us that. Good luck to you and thank you.

 

[DTS]

Agreed - Thanks for all you did. Did a great job in tricky circumstances. Liked him as a manager at the start, less so at the end but the wonders he worked in his first season I will be forever grateful.

 

[2wolfs]

mr paul sturrock a true legend

thank you paul for all you have done for southend united,we will sing your name at wembley as always with pride and at the end with a lot of emotion.we can only wish you all the best in whatever you do after our wembley trip.

 

[LeedsSUFC]

50/50 on this one. Whilst Sturrock has done a fantastic job, this season hasn't been fantastic. Ron has backed him during transfers and loanees, it just hasn't worked. Yes he saved us, but we need something new after recent performances being absolutely ****.

Ron isn't the most amazing person either, throws away all that Sturrock has built on this season, but surely, giving Brown 7 games to work on before next season is much better than a rushed Pre-Season?

 

[meerkat54]

Thanks for getting us to Wembley and for stabilising us in that first campaign, but I feel it is the right time to go after failure for a second successive season.

Fully agree !

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

We should get some banners or one big banner sorted for Wembley, saying "thanks for everything Luggy" or something along those lines. I've said my thoughts on the decision on the other thread but would just like to echo the sentiments expressed by others here. I've got huge respect for Sturrock. He's a true gent and a proper football man, a dying breed. Always honest, modest in victory and humble in defeat. Very rarely made excuses or blamed the referee/opposition. Highly spoken of by other managers. Had a witty sense of humour to him as well. All the while battling with Parkinson's disease, let's not forget. No manager would've envied the position that he inherited the club in. He steadied the ship in his first season and last season got a points total that would've got us promotion in any other season. He's brought some brilliant players to this club. Someone earlier on said that when Tilson and all the players left, it didn't feel like Southend anymore. But over time, they've become our club again. People like Clohessy, Phillips, Barker, Timlin, Hurst, Corr, Tomlin will be players who we remember fondly for years to come. He's also given youngsters a bit more of a chance than Tilson did. And what better way to leave us than with our first ever Wembley cup final. I wish him all the best in the future whatever he does, and particularly wish him good health.

 

[southchurch]

Yes good post SBH.Having had another think about it. If PS did lead the team out at Wembley it sure would be a motivator for the team. And I would not begrudge him it. The trouble is I just can't see a sacked manager coming back for a final. I don't think he would do it. And I also don't think the new man would be that impressed either. It could happen , you never know but like you say it would be a first. Then again we did take our keeper off for penalties in this compitition and I think that was quite amazing.

 

[banjo saviola]

Thanks Paul,

No need to replicate some great comments already made in this thread. Hope he doesn't find a club too soon, as we have several talented (and soon to be out of contract) players at this club. They seem to respect & enjoy playing for the man and it will cost us to replace them.

 

[Chairman Trigg]

I think anyone who was at Roots Hall when he took over will never forget the stunned silence as we tried to remember who the players he had signed were on the pitch,and the agony of the first few months as we got to know them and the positions they played.When I look back over 48 yrs of supporting this club I would rate PS ACHIEVEMENT of turning this around and not sending us out of the football league as probably the greatest in that time.To think we missed promotion by a floodlight failure ,and this season by the worst injury crisis in my memory would suggest Sturrock has not failed ,but has been so unlucky.Leading the team out at Wembley should be the least he deserves

 

[Blues 'n twos]

Thanks can only hope that you get the reception at Wembley that your efforts deserve 30,000 shrimpers united in chanting " Paul Sturrocks barmy army SUFC"

Honest man and there aint that many of them in football these days.

 

[Supershrimper]

Thanks for 2 and 3/4 seasons at the helm of Southend Paul. Getting us to a Wembley Cup Final will always be rememberd, and should be up there on your CV.

Thanks for helping to rebuild our club after relegation from league 1 and getting in some great players (Clohessy, Cresswell, Tomlin, Timlin, Corr, Hall). All the best for the future (if a wee birdie is reading)

I wouldn't put money against Paul popping up on a South coast club soon (Plymouth, Portsmouth etc)

 

[Csboy]

So would Sturrock have been sacked if yesterdays game had been played and we would have won? Sacking Sturrock now makes no sense at all let him see out the season for goodness sake. So what happens now Phil Brown takes over we lose the next 2 games and then we go and win the JPT under Sturrock!!! Will the fans be calling for the return of Sturrock? Ron Martin would certainly have egg on his face.

 

[meerkat54]

If Sturrock won at Wembley it would be impossible to them sack him. Rom obviously feels that is a risk he doesn't want.

Yeah ! , quite true. R.M. would have been in a very sticky situation !:scared: