Protest for the Derby Friendly

[Lester Bangs]

So will you be protesting because you're angry about what has happened? Or are you protesting to achieve change? And if so, what change?

A bit from Column A and a bit from Column B.

Yeah I'm furious at the situation my club has found itself in and someone has to be to blame. That someone is ultimately Ron Martin, I want him to know that jeopardising the future of Southend United is not on.

We're still a long long way from any sort of safety or security, and August 2nd is critical. I want Ron Martin to know in no uncertain terms that I will not stand idly by and watch the club I love be destroyed.

You're right, I have no power to influence to change the course of the club but I will do everything I can to help it going. If that means making our illustrious chairman know that I'm livid with the mismanagement of the club then so be it.

 

[BrettieAngell]

I believe their wages came from a PFA loan (?), so they got taken care of in the end and Ron can now pay that loan back when he can - hopefully in the next few weeks to get the embargo lifted.

Along with all the other debts we have.

 

[Richard_Cadette]

The one issue which seems to have ignited the blut touch paper more than anything else is the removal of Tilly from his position as manager.

Now, I think it was fairly unanimous that everyone had the upmost respect for him, and that everyone will always be forever indebted for his services to this club, both as player and manager. It was certainly out of his control what happened last season, and he can really only be blamed for one bad season with us - the Championship season.

But let's take stock here for a minute. It was clear that the relationship between him and Ron Martin has completely broken down. The way I saw it, his position became untenable as soon as Brush was ousted, it undermined his role as manager. Now you can argue that is Ron's fault - and you'd be right - it was his fault. That is irrelevant now though. If Tilly had continued in his role as manager, I genuinely don't see how things could have improved, there was way too much water under the bridge, and that goes for many of the players he brought in as well. As much as we all love him, the only outcome I am interested in is the future of my club, and no single person is bigger than that.

Ron created this mess, of that there is no doubt, but how is protesting going to solve the issues you have with him and the board? You will let him know how strongly you feel perhaps? Well newsflash - I think he is in NO DOUBT how much he is loathed by one and all connected to the club. What other purpose will this serve? Well it will certainly create a nice, hostile atmosphere for the new management team and potential players we have with us, which would be excellent wouldn't it?

The trouble with protests is that they are often diorganised, lack focus, and have no real goal - they often cayse more harm than good. Look at the way our form tailed off that season that Webby resigned in our first ever season at Championship level? OK, a lot of that was due to his resignation, but the constant protests created an awful atmoshphere, and one the players clearly did not respond to in a positive fashion, and we literally went into free fall. Is that what we want this season?

In my opinion, Tilly could no longer manage this club because of what had gone on before, and as much as I am appalled by that, we now have a new manager - not just any manager, but one with a proven track record, one who I think we're very fortunate to have, and one who, given the support and time, will turn things around, transfer embargo pending. He is exactly the right kind of character to help us move forward and deal with what is going on, and why would anyone want to jeopardise that?

This may sound cold, but are you loyal to Southend United FC, or are you loyal to Steve Tilson? Well, I know which I am loyal to, and as much as Ron is 100% responsible for the abhorrent situation we're in, we have to try and move forward by supporting the playerd and management alike. Ron is not going anywhere, unless forced to do so by the HMRC, and no amount of protests will change that.

Up the Blues!

 

[* ORM *]

IF I could be bothered to go to a pre-season friendly I would be protesting about the disgusting way matters have been run for the last 3 months. We're still a long way from being able to play next season at all. Until Uncle Ron can prove that the day to day finances are now on an even keel we still have a good chance of administration or receivership.

You can go to a game, get behind the Manager and the new (unsigned) players but still make your feelings known. Most of us aren't shareholders but we are stakeholders and without us and our regular income next season the finances aren't going to improve.

Playing brinkmanship with the Inland Revenue and other creditors is not funny, not clever and bordering on the insane.

 

[McNasty]

I am still very worried about the financial situation and concerned that whilst Sainsbury's have said they will pay the bills I am not sure that this has been put in writing and until there are some guarantees I have no faith whatsoever in the Chairman taking the club further.

 

[Badger74]

Will it? Can you explain how and why? Who is going to replace him? Do you see him just upping sticks and walking (then calling in the back rent he has never collected), or do you see him putting the club up for sale?

Genuinely interested in how you explain this?...

I will explain it to you one to one (Genuine) rather then message board as you keep backing Martin.
you must be going to Derby game so let have a chat about this.
I will be at clubshop at 7pm, greentop and baseball cap you will not miss me!!

 

[palexander]

I will explain it to you one to one (Genuine) rather then message board as you keep backing Martin.
you must be going to Derby game so let have a chat about this.
I will be at clubshop at 7pm, greentop and baseball cap you will not miss me!!

I'll be making a last minute decision on whether to go - if I do, I'll pop in!

 

[Lavender Blue]

This may sound cold, but are you loyal to Southend United FC, or are you loyal to Steve Tilson? Well, I know which I am loyal to, and as much as Ron is 100% responsible for the abhorrent situation we're in, we have to try and move forward by supporting the playerd and management alike. Ron is not going anywhere, unless forced to do so by the HMRC, and no amount of protests will change that.

Up the Blues!

Absolutely Well said sir :clap:

Unfortunately I Think Jack has got caught up in his own hype, he is a young supporter who is easily led,
lets see what he is posting in 6 months time :unsure:

 

[Badger74]

You not supporting the team then

 

[TrevorFitzpatrickHattrick]

You not supporting the team then

It's like Oxford away on this board at present. Maybe this chap has other commitments like work or family?

Three points:

1) Nobody who supports the club is happy with the present scenario.
2) It's up to individuals how they vent their spleen regarding our troubles but action needs to be reasoned and have clear goals.
3) Whilst I know one of the key drivers of a forum such as this is to provoke debate, don't lose sight of the fact that we all support Southend United and we all want success for the team.

 

[GBJ]

Just an observation, but all those who are saying "get behind the players and manager" etc, (which, by the way, is the correct sentinment) have any of you stopped to consider/realise that due to the poor way the club is being run, that the same players and the same manager may not be here in a few days/weeks/months?

If a protest puts more pressure on Ron to deliver on his promises, then isn't that a good thing?

 

[Beefy]

I am still very worried about the financial situation and concerned that whilst Sainsbury's have said they will pay the bills I am not sure that this has been put in writing and until there are some guarantees I have no faith whatsoever in the Chairman taking the club further.

I feel exactly the same way. But other than to show our disapproval of all that has happened, for whatever reason, I don't see what a protest will achieve. As Richard_Cadette said, Ron Martin will know just how unpopular he is at the moment. He won't be doing any laps of honour around the Roots Hall pitch any time soon. And no amount of protesting will force him out because it appears that staying at the Club long enough to complete the two developments is the only chance of keeping his businesses alive.

I don't see any upside in protesting but plenty of downsides - not least fuelling the negativity around the ground.

Protests need to be organised and focussed on a specific goal. We don't have either of those things here and I don't think we will have either until there's a clear alternative to Ron Martin. Perhaps rather than protest against Ron Martin we could protest the Consortium into going public with their plans and doing something proactive to save the Club rather than waiting in the wings for an Administration which may never come.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Just an observation, but all those who are saying "get behind the players and manager" etc, (which, by the way, is the correct sentinment) have any of you stopped to consider/realise that due to the poor way the club is being run, that the same players and the same manager may not be here in a few days/weeks/months?

If a protest puts more pressure on Ron to deliver on his promises, then isn't that a good thing?

But the type of protest that is being put together isn't about forcing Ron to deliver promises, it's about forcing him out of the club.

The majority of the squad and management team have only just got here, and it's a dangerous game to play in creating a negative, hostile environment on their arrival. If you turned up for your first day at work and there was a baying mob hurling abuse at your boss outside the office, you're certainly not going to be endeared by the company.

Given the shambolic attempts at protests in the past, the vitriol posted on the "official" facebook page of the protest and the general feelings of the supporter base, I can't see this protest turning anything other than nasty.

I neither agree or disagree with the idea of a protest. If people want to voice their concerns, then that's fine by me, what I do disagree with is making the sparse resemblance of a squad we have uncomfortable. I know that's not the original intent of the protest, but just by looking at this board over the past 3 or 4 days, it's becoming increasingly apparent that due to the loyalty supporters still hold towards Tilson, that whatever Sturrock achieves here it isn't going to be enough...

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

I feel exactly the same way. But other than to show our disapproval of all that has happened, for whatever reason, I don't see what a protest will achieve. As Richard_Cadette said, Ron Martin will know just how unpopular he is at the moment. He won't be doing any laps of honour around the Roots Hall pitch any time soon. And no amount of protesting will force him out because it appears that staying at the Club long enough to complete the two developments is the only chance of keeping his businesses alive.

I don't see any upside in protesting but plenty of downsides - not least fuelling the negativity around the ground.

Protests need to be organised and focussed on a specific goal. We don't have either of those things here and I don't think we will have either until there's a clear alternative to Ron Martin. Perhaps rather than protest against Ron Martin we could protest the Consortium into going public with their plans and doing something proactive to save the Club rather than waiting in the wings for an Administration which may never come.

Seeing Our Glorious Leader seems to thrive on being unpopular, I'd say making him the vitriolic target of a protest is playing exactly into his hands. Who knows, if things do turn nasty it will give them an excuse to send out Geoffrey King's Stormtroopers to remedy the situation?

Best form of protest for me, is not putting cash into Martin's pocket where it will no doubt be squandered again through mismanagement. If the crowd want to show some form of protest during a game, we'd be far better off going down the Italian Ultras route of turning our backs from the pitch and having a period of silence to mourn the level of atrocities RM has presided over during his recent tenure.

 

[Murkey_Mouse]

I won't be protesting, as its achieve nothing, Ron Martin know he not the most poplaur man in South East Essex, but he got new fans from Scums up the A12 and Orient who is delighted to see what happen to Southend in last 12 month. I am here to watch football and to enjoy a match and to see what the new players on trail's is like and I will be supporting Sturrock as he got a good CV at this level and he got big contacts in the game to build a new team from nothing and he won 4 promotion with different team between League 1 and 2.

If the so called consortium care about Southend United, they should have sat down with Ron Martin and thrash out a deal to move Southend Utd forward and for a good future, but all they care is, waiting for us to go into Administration before they can get them on cheap.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

If the so called consortium care about Southend United, they should have sat down with Ron Martin and thrash out a deal to move Southend Utd forward and for a good future, but all they care is, waiting for us to go into Administration before they can get them on cheap.

How do you know though that they haven't requested the opportunity to sit down with RM and see if he will listen to offers? As with most of the consortium related posts, it's all hearsay at this stage.

 

[Murkey_Mouse]

I read the Echo that they wanted Southend Utd to go into Adminstration before they can take over, starting the season with a new team with a -10 point is not a good thing at all!

 

[Beefy]

How do you know though that they haven't requested the opportunity to sit down with RM and see if he will listen to offers? As with most of the consortium related posts, it's all hearsay at this stage.

To be fair, half of your posts in the past six months have concerned speculation and hearsay being portrayed as fact.

I suppose it's ok as long as it's followed by a winking smilie.

;)

 

[Lord Football]

The consortium have attempted to sit down with RM, but he didn't want to know. If they are to take control of the club they will have to buy it from Sainsburys or wait until it is in Administration and try for it then.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

To be fair, half of your posts in the past six months have concerned speculation and hearsay being portrayed as fact.

I suppose it's ok as long as it's followed by a winking smilie.

;)

Absolute mince.
Lets just say over the past 6 months I've garnered some contacts who have provided me with a lot more accurate information as to what has been going on within Roots Hall.

If you've got an issue with me, take it off the main boards & I am happy to discuss elsewhere.

One step from ignore...