Some Club Staff Salaries Late/Embargo Chat - now resolved (for now)

[LennySUFC]

Only a 3 week embargo?

Pfft... we're getting good at this now. Not too long ago we had one for four months!

 

[Smiffy]

Let’s also hope people don’t see the new signing and completely forget about the issue at hand. Staff still remain unpaid. A shiny new toy doesn’t deflect away from that.

Very much so. Pressure must be maintained on the right person to drag this club kicking and screaming towards where it needs and we demand it must be, which at the very least is professional in its operations.

Even if it means untold arguments on here, a spotlight being shined on "issues" can only help resolve the situation. We all want the best for the club and sometimes that means accepting things are wrong and making it known that "we know"

 

[Cricko]

Why doesn't he just say sorry I might not have been clear on the time frame should have said last 3 weeks. Rather than ignore your question and answer another one. Its what a politician would do.

That said the report certainly rings very true. Cashflow issues. Ron is asked for money "short notice". Can't generate cash short notice needs to raise against assets which takes time/legals (even Ron has explained this before). Money now provided to make problem go away. Side effect Ron jumping up and down about cashflow forecasting/budgets, Tom saying we need a proper Head of Finance and I know just the person and hey presto on that score. it does all rather hang together doesn't it.

Oh of course it does. Thanks for the update Ron.

 

[JAL]

I think it's time for one of these.

 

[Barry.C]

Rontom cant claim surprise in terms of paying up
We clearly set up an agreed Time to pay agreement to escape the Embargo following the announcement last December. Therefore it raises questions about whether we honoured this agreement or yet again failed

 

[jarvisyeh]

Hopefully the new head of finance is the club finally deciding to solve the ongoing financial issues.

 

[Shrimper Brownie]

Hopefully the new head of finance is the club finally deciding to solve the ongoing financial issues.

Let's hope so ey

 

[kentblues]

Hopefully this is a learning curve for everyone and we can move on.

Do not dismiss bad news as "fake news"...

If there's enough smoke on here from posters (whoever they maybe) on certain subjects, it's usually bang on when it comes to this club.

To be fair (if that is even allowed) whilst some may have been saying fake news by far the most were seeking clarity where the was none.

On the pay issue most were trying to understand who hadn't been paid- and as it rattled around between a few staff, and all staff other than first team players and management, this didn't help with people knowing what to believe and what not to believe. And we still don't have clarity- that said probably we no longer need to.

As you say a learning curve for everyone. But I doubt we will ever get to the point where we just accept without question what is posted by ITK posters without questioning/seeking evidence or clarification. It just needs to be done in the right way.

 

[kentblues]

On a more positive note a way to help in our own little way club finances...

COLCHESTER FRIENDLY STREAMED LIVE

Tuesday evening's Essex Derby away to Colchester United will be available for Blues fans to watch live via the U’s streaming platform Col U TV.

www.southendunited.co.uk

Tonights friendly is being live streamed -- £6 and 50% goes to the club. So a £3 donation by each of use viewing.

 

[Shrimper95]

I think the frustrating thing is people coming on hinting that we might be under this and might be under that, can’t you just say we are under an embargo instead of beating round the bush? I get that Matt Slater has confirmed it but the previous posts could’ve been cut down if people said what they knew rather than hinting.

 

[Smiffy]

To be fair (if that is even allowed) whilst some may have been saying fake news by far the most were seeking clarity where the was none.

On the pay issue most were trying to understand who hadn't been paid- and as it rattled around between a few staff, and all staff other than first team players and management, this didn't help with people knowing what to believe and what not to believe. And we still don't have clarity- that said probably we no longer need to.

As you say a learning curve for everyone. But I doubt we will ever get to the point where we just accept without question what is posted by ITK posters without questioning/seeking evidence or clarification. It just needs to be done in the right way.

I get what you are saying. But, if an ITK or anyone said on here we are signing an EFL striker who scored 20 goals last season for a 6 figure sum, it probably wouldn't be questioned. Certainly not to the extent of demanding proof anyway. It would be "wow, that's great" "where's he from" "any clues please mate"....inbox messages galore etc etc.

There were a number of outright dismissals on here and some quite unnecessary catty remarks (not saying that was you) regarding the embargo rumours. We have to learn to accept news or rumours, whether good or bad, could be true before we can properly move this club forward with a united fanbase. We need to stay frosty and keep the club (well a certain person) on their toes. No slipping anymore. Standards must be improved.

 

[kentblues]

Yep, lets hope with the new Head of Finance, then these issues may at least happen less frequently if at all. Here's wishing anyway.

Agree- it just a typical fiasco that it to the casual observer seems to take all this to fill a post that clear is critical given Ron is the last person at the moment to come up with cash in a hurry...

 

[JAL]

I never disregarded the hints or info for embargos, there is just a smokescreen of "I don't know wtf is true anymore"

 

[Danshrimper]

The note from Matt Slater also brings up a lot of questions.

How on earth have we managed to be under embargo a reported 3 times in a year?

Wholly unacceptable and frankly embarrassing. This must stop now. No more.

I read 3 times in a year to mean 3 times in the last 12 months rather than 3 times in 2022. That doesn’t make it any better of course but at least makes a bit more sense. The timings would suggest that the embargoes have related to late payments of the quarterly VAT and/or PAYE bills (this is just a guess so could be other reasons).

If this is the case, then at least we are resolving the issue within a few weeks, rather than letting it drag on to court which has happened so many times in the past.

 

[Barry.C]

So we stretched out a time to pay agreement and still copped an embargo FFS. Have we got another extended time to pay agreement in place, Did the last one involve extra interest? Tom?

 

[kentblues]

I get what you are saying. But, if an ITK or anyone said on here we are signing an EFL striker who scored 20 goals last season for a 6 figure sum, it probably wouldn't be questioned. Certainly not to the extent of demanding proof anyway. It would be "wow, that's great" "where's he from" "any clues please mate"....

We have to learn to accept news, whether good or bad, before we can properly move this club forward with a united fanbase.

Agree but its reasonable expectations.

The info on the striker couldn't be any more detailed (and probably shouldn't have the number of goals scored) without naming them. And no-one would expect that. So the IKN post you describe would no doubt be met by a blizzard of likes as there is nothing that can be reasonably asked or expected further other than perhaps around timing.

If someone says something general like "staff have not been paid" of course it is going to be questioned over which staff, even the more so, when other posters are sharing that they know staff that have been?

The differences between the two posts in terms of detail that can be shared, and any contradictions, then drives the difference in response/questions- not necessarily if its good news or bad.

 

[gatecrasher]

I think Umbongo sitch is just going to be with us until the new stadium is built and Ronaldo has gone. Under one, nor, under one, not on rotation almost every quarter. Its a revolving credit facility for the club which we don't pay until Ron is summoned to his second home, the court.

 

[kentblues]

So now I wonder, will the club address the embargo again, and even more so now it's lifted, because last time we managed to force a club statement out of them:

CLUB STATEMENT: EMBARGO

The Club can confirm that the National League have placed us under embargo whilst we finalise the terms of a Time To Pay agreement with HMRC in relation to debt that accrued during the Coronavirus pandemic.

www.southendunited.co.uk

I know they don't have to address it, but I feel like it has to be, along with the unpaid wages.

You can understand the club preferring not to. If we are trying to sign players - not exactly helpful not withstanding its self inflicted.

 

[kentblues]

Oh of course it does. Thanks for the update Ron.

Can I say this is exactly the type of comment that grates- just because you don't like the post you play the man not the ball.

I have repeatedly criticised Ron in the past and will do in the the future. Rather than a throw away insult why not explain to us all which parts of my post you don't agree with?

 

[Jai]

I think the frustrating thing is people coming on hinting that we might be under this and might be under that, can’t you just say we are under an embargo instead of beating round the bush? I get that Matt Slater has confirmed it but the previous posts could’ve been cut down if people said what they knew rather than hinting.

No because it's business sensitive. A few posts on SZ is one thing especially as it's all conjecture. Announcing to the football world that we can't pay our bills is quite another.

EDIT: Sorry, I see you're referring to posters on here rather than the club confirming it. Ignore me!