Ron Martin

[OldBlueLady]

I do think the new stadium could've been sited better, where it is it's a bit of a dead end. Jobson's original idea around Basildon does have its merits.

 

[Boreham Shrimper]

I do think the new stadium could've been sited better, where it is it's a bit of a dead end. Jobson's original idea around Basildon does have its merits.

However, I think the key is in the name: Southend United :p

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I do think the new stadium could've been sited better, where it is it's a bit of a dead end. Jobson's original idea around Basildon does have its merits.

You are fortunate that negative rep has been switched off.

 

[Blueshrimper]

He could have put the stadium in my back garden. Martin out...

 

[BrettieAngell]

You are fortunate that negative rep has been switched off.

indeed that could have been one of the most neg rep'd posts ever!

 

[biffo]

I do think the new stadium could've been sited better, where it is it's a bit of a dead end. Jobson's original idea around Basildon does have its merits.

Basildon is pushing the boundry's a bit far but i understand your logic. Perhaps somewhere around the A130/127 junction where there is swathes of unused land might have been an easier location logistically.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

I personally don't trust RM. I can't put my finger on it, but as has been said earlier, he isn't doing it for the good of his health.

I'm sure that he will look after SUFC, but after he's looked after himself. The big question is, How much will SUFC make out of the whole FF thing & how much will RM make out of FF?

As long as we don't end up in the same mess as Coventry did I'll be happy. For those who don't know, directors who loaned money to Cov took it back from the proceeds of the sale of Highfield Road & left them with nothing & worse off. Hence the debt. The same directors then sold their shares & bogged off

RM if you read this, don't take it as a dig at you, as you've done more than most directors have at any club. Its a sad fact of life that people have to make money to live & you are no different. I do appreciate that you don't hide behind a faceless press release.

 

[Beefy]

We've already got nothing though thanks to the debt that Jobson & Adams got us into. Southend United won't see a penny from the sale of Roots Hall because we don't own Roots Hall and haven't done for years.

Ron Martin got involved in this Football Club to make money first and foremost. He's a businessman and not a charity. As it goes, we've done pretty well out of the deal.

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

I do think the new stadium could've been sited better, where it is it's a bit of a dead end. Jobson's original idea around Basildon does have its merits.

Basildon was not Jobson's original idea, he came up with the plan to move to Basildon after not getting the go ahead from Southend Council. He used this tactic to try to pressure the council into granting planning permission. Old Vic unfortunately had bit of a stormy relationship with the Council so it was not a surprise he did not get the planning permission he was after.

The only other site that could have been a goer is now the Southend Tesco Extra but this would I presume needed the airport to shutdown. So Fossetts Farm is the best bet for such a development.

 

[biffo]

RM is nobody's fool and whilst his own ambitions are intertwined with that of the football club i fear not. However, once those ambitions have been achieved....................

 

[southendutd1]

i personally think that at first like many chairmans with various clubs have done was in for the cash, but as time has gone on and has got into it put and now sees it as an enjoyment and if any extra money he can make from it is a bonus!

 

[The Big Shrimp]

We've already got nothing though thanks to the debt that Jobson & Adams got us into. Southend United won't see a penny from the sale of Roots Hall because we don't own Roots Hall and haven't done for years.

Ron Martin got involved in this Football Club to make money first and foremost. He's a businessman and not a charity. As it goes, we've done pretty well out of the deal.

...but the directors of both SUFC & the company that owns RH have a common link!! Morally wrong, but a sad fact of life. Most clubs buy their grounds back whenever they can, as it's their greatest asset. Leeds have used the Council pawn shop on several occasions.

Like you also say, we've done well in the time of RM, so its not all bad!!

The question that needs to be addressed, is what happens when RM gets p!ssed off at the slagging off he gets AFTER (he won't do it before!) FF gets built? Will he own the stadium or will be left in trust to the supporters of SUFC?

 

[Cricko]

I am sure that Ron obviously as a business man does not have unlimited resources....Of course, for sure I hope he will profit out of our moving to Fossetts....and why shouldn't he?.....He has put his own personal money into SUFC morso than any previous chairman I have known in 40 odd years,most wanted to sell the club down the River for personal gain...If any of you think he has not SUFC at heart you are badly mistaken...He is a fan and a supporter firstly, hence his reaction to new years days defeat and his appearance on the pitch yesterday..There are some Cynics on here:mad:

 

[Beefy]

...but the directors of both SUFC & the company that owns RH have a common link!! Morally wrong, but a sad fact of life. Most clubs buy their grounds back whenever they can, as it's their greatest asset. Leeds have used the Council pawn shop on several occasions.

Yeah but I don't think the plan here ever was for SUFC to buy back Roots Hall. Delancy & Martin Dawn only got involved, and therefore to save this Football Club, in order to make money from the redevelopment of Roots Hall and the construction of a new ground elsehwere with an associated retail park/flats/hotel, etc.

The question that needs to be addressed, is what happens when RM gets p!ssed off at the slagging off he gets AFTER (he won't do it before!) FF gets built? Will he own the stadium or will be left in trust to the supporters of SUFC?

That is, indeed, the big question. The suggestion was that SUFC would be given the new ground. I hope that's the case but we'll see. I guess that the land itself won't be as valuable as the cost of putting up the football ground will be so that once it's up it's in no-one's business interests to knock it down again.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Ah but I'm a newby so I wouldn't know! As I said when I wrote to the enquiry people I'd rather have the stadium near where I live in Benfleet than what's planned.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

I am sure that Ron obviously as a business man does not have unlimited resources....Of course, for sure I hope he will profit out of our moving to Fossetts....and why shouldn't he?.....He has put his own personal money into SUFC morso than any previous chairman I have known in 40 odd years,most wanted to sell the club down the River for personal gain...If any of you think he has not SUFC at heart you are badly mistaken...He is a fan and a supporter firstly, hence his reaction to new years days defeat and his appearance on the pitch yesterday..There are some Cynics on here:mad:

I can't claim to have watched SUFC as long as you, as I only moved here in 1975, when I was 10, but like you I have bad memories of the Rubin, Jobson, Anton etc, which is why I raise the points I have.

If Southend get given the ground, as a straight swap for RH, fair enough, I just know what has happened to other clubs, e.g. Coventry.

I'm sure RM could address these points if asked, although I doubt he'd answer the one about his profit margin. We'd have to wait for his Companies accounts to be published for that!!

 

[Beefy]

I'm no expert in what happened to Coventry, but didn't they get given the Ricoh by the local Council? It seems to me that like a great many other Championship clubs their financial problems are largely down to living beyond their means.

 

[Cricko]

I can't claim to have watched SUFC as long as you, as I only moved here in 1975, when I was 10, but like you I have bad memories of the Rubin, Jobson, Anton etc, which is why I raise the points I have.

If Southend get given the ground, as a straight swap for RH, fair enough, I just know what has happened to other clubs, e.g. Coventry.

I'm sure RM could address these points if asked, although I doubt he'd answer the one about his profit margin. We'd have to wait for his Companies accounts to be published for that!!

I think in all honesty he hasn't a clue about profits yet himself , I would think into todays economic climate,figures change daily..but I assure you from his own mouth ..given the chance to build Fossetts farm...it will be done.

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

Ah but I'm a newby so I wouldn't know! As I said when I wrote to the enquiry people I'd rather have the stadium near where I live in Benfleet than what's planned.

So where in the West of Southend would you site the new stadium? It is only hypothetical but I am interested? Remember the name is Southend United so it must stay with in the boundaries of this town.

The new site is only slightly to the east of the town compared to Roots Halls so makes the most sense to me and I guess the previous Government officials involved in the many proposals for this land.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

I'm no expert in what happened to Coventry, but didn't they get given the Ricoh by the local Council? It seems to me that like a great many other Championship clubs their financial problems are largely down to living beyond their means.

No! I think they have a long term lease, but they haven't got it on the cheap either.

I'm not sure of the full financial arrangements, but they only make money on some what they earn from the stadium, e.g. they have to get crowds of 20,000 or 21,000 to break even.

The whole point of a new stadium is to give you the opportunity to have a sound financial base to work from & a stadium that will enable the club to make the most of the facilities & continue the financial well-being. That is the point of FF.