SUFC AGM

[Javea Shrimper]

1) Leon Cort : the Club actually matched the wage offer of Hull City but the player wanted to try himself at a higher level. I think most of us always knew this ...

2) Leon Constantine : the striker wanted to leave at Christmas and was trying to negotiate a pre-contract agreement will Hull City but the Tigers didn't want him. Tilson confirmed that he only wanted to see committed players at Roots Hall - "I not worried [Constantine's] gone." Neither am I ...

3) Wayne Gray : he wants to take the penalties next season and apparently told Tilson that "I want to play for Southend and score goals". I think many players out of a job might possiby probably say the same thing, Wayne ...

4) Kevin Maher : he will remain captain next season. "The side respects him," said Tilson.

5) Darryl Flahavan : Tilson seems certain that Flahavan will sign and confirmed that the keeper has said that he would be happy to fight for his place alongside Griemink.

6) Fossetts Farm : Ron Martin seems confident that SUFC will be playing in a new shiny stadium by the 2006/07 season ...

WS

 

[TerryintheWest]

The debt for the rent on Roots Hall and Boots & Laces has been written off and rent will not be charged in the future.

Even with increased expenditure, the players wages will remain within the 60% gross turnover limit.

Every player will have an equal chance of getting in the team, there is an excellent team spirit and there is ample cover for all positions.

Ron is not going to cut and run!!

 

[TerryintheWest]

There are no bad apples within the squad.

 

[Technician]

Quote[/b] (Javea Shrimper @ July 05 2004,23:49)]1) Leon Cort : the Club actually matched the wage offer of Hull City but the player wanted to try himself at a higher level. I think most of us always knew this ...

2) Leon Constantine : the striker wanted to leave at Christmas and was trying to negotiate a pre-contract agreement will Hull City but the Tigers didn't want him. Tilson confirmed that he only wanted to see committed players at Roots Hall - "I not worried [Constantine's] gone." Neither am I ...

3) Wayne Gray : he wants to take the penalties next season and apparently told Tilson that "I want to play for Southend and score goals". I think many players out of a job might possiby probably say the same thing, Wayne ...

4) Kevin Maher : he will remain captain next season. "The side respects him," said Tilson.

5) Darryl Flahavan : Tilson seems certain that Flahavan will sign and confirmed that the keeper has said that he would be happy to fight for his place alongside Griemink.

6) Fossetts Farm : Ron Martin seems confident that SUFC will be playing in a new shiny stadium by the 2006/07 season ...

WS

Guess that's cleared that little lot up them!

Point 6).
We've waited several years for the Fossetts Farm project and it's great that the new stadium is definitely going to happen, but is there no other detail - Plans, Provisions, Talking Points, Smaller Capacity [with options to expand?].

On that last part, I cannot see the point in 16000 seats, if we can only attract 4-5000 gates [6000 when we were in the old 1st Division]. With only the outside chance of a Premiership club coming to visit [IF and when we get a cup run], I think 10000 seats is ample. The atmosphere will be better and IF we reserve land for expanding the ground to 20000+ seats in the future, when we climb the league ladder as we did in the 90's, it will be better suited to our position.

 

[overseas shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ July 06 2004,09:19)]

Quote[/b] (Javea Shrimper @ July 05 2004,23:49)]1) Leon Cort : the Club actually matched the wage offer of Hull City but the player wanted to try himself at a higher level. I think most of us always knew this ...

2) Leon Constantine : the striker wanted to leave at Christmas and was trying to negotiate a pre-contract agreement will Hull City but the Tigers didn't want him. Tilson confirmed that he only wanted to see committed players at Roots Hall - "I not worried [Constantine's] gone." Neither am I ...

3) Wayne Gray : he wants to take the penalties next season and apparently told Tilson that "I want to play for Southend and score goals". I think many players out of a job might possiby probably say the same thing, Wayne ...

4) Kevin Maher : he will remain captain next season. "The side respects him," said Tilson.

5) Darryl Flahavan : Tilson seems certain that Flahavan will sign and confirmed that the keeper has said that he would be happy to fight for his place alongside Griemink.

6) Fossetts Farm : Ron Martin seems confident that SUFC will be playing in a new shiny stadium by the 2006/07 season ...

WS

Guess that's cleared that little lot up them!

Point 6).
We've waited several years for the Fossetts Farm project and it's great that the new stadium is definitely going to happen, but is there no other detail - Plans, Provisions, Talking Points, Smaller Capacity [with options to expand?].

On that last part, I cannot see the point in 16000 seats, if we can only attract 4-5000 gates [6000 when we were in the old 1st Division]. With only the outside chance of a Premiership club coming to visit [IF and when we get a cup run], I think 10000 seats is ample. The atmosphere will be better and IF we reserve land for expanding the ground to 20000+ seats in the future, when we climb the league ladder as we did in the 90's, it will be better suited to our position.

You quite rightly stated that when we were in the old First Division, we still got relatively small crowds... so why would we even need 20,000 seats if we got back up there?

 

[Guest]

Quote[/b] (overseas shrimper @ July 06 2004,08:44)]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ July 06 2004,09:19)]

Quote[/b] (Javea Shrimper @ July 05 2004,23:49)]1) Leon Cort : the Club actually matched the wage offer of Hull City but the player wanted to try himself at a higher level. I think most of us always knew this ...

2) Leon Constantine : the striker wanted to leave at Christmas and was trying to negotiate a pre-contract agreement will Hull City but the Tigers didn't want him. Tilson confirmed that he only wanted to see committed players at Roots Hall - "I not worried [Constantine's] gone." Neither am I ...

3) Wayne Gray : he wants to take the penalties next season and apparently told Tilson that "I want to play for Southend and score goals". I think many players out of a job might possiby probably say the same thing, Wayne ...

4) Kevin Maher : he will remain captain next season. "The side respects him," said Tilson.

5) Darryl Flahavan : Tilson seems certain that Flahavan will sign and confirmed that the keeper has said that he would be happy to fight for his place alongside Griemink.

6) Fossetts Farm : Ron Martin seems confident that SUFC will be playing in a new shiny stadium by the 2006/07 season ...

WS

Guess that's cleared that little lot up them!

Point 6).
We've waited several years for the Fossetts Farm project and it's great that the new stadium is definitely going to happen, but is there no other detail - Plans, Provisions, Talking Points, Smaller Capacity [with options to expand?].

On that last part, I cannot see the point in 16000 seats, if we can only attract 4-5000 gates [6000 when we were in the old 1st Division]. With only the outside chance of a Premiership club coming to visit [IF and when we get a cup run], I think 10000 seats is ample. The atmosphere will be better and IF we reserve land for expanding the ground to 20000+ seats in the future, when we climb the league ladder as we did in the 90's, it will be better suited to our position.

You quite rightly stated that when we were in the old First Division, we still got relatively small crowds... so why would we even need 20,000 seats if we got back up there?

Boys that was back in the older days and i thibk that we would definatly get many more fans if we was in the First Division/Championship club. Football interest in Southend has increased and will do if we was to get into League 1 and then even more if we was to get into the Championship league!

 

[W4 Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ July 06 2004,08:19)]On that last part, I cannot see the point in 16000 seats, if we can only attract 4-5000 gates [6000 when we were in the old 1st Division]. With only the outside chance of a Premiership club coming to visit [IF and when we get a cup run], I think 10000 seats is ample. The atmosphere will be better and IF we reserve land for expanding the ground to 20000+ seats in the future, when we climb the league ladder as we did in the 90's, it will be better suited to our position.

Agreed. I'd rather see us build a 12,000 seater stadium that had room for expansion.

Not that I'm getting fussy of course - I'd be happy just to see us in a new stadium (ours, not someone else's)...

 

[overseas shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ July 06 2004,10:00)]

Quote[/b] (overseas shrimper @ July 06 2004,08:44)]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ July 06 2004,09:19)]

Quote[/b] (Javea Shrimper @ July 05 2004,23:49)]1) Leon Cort : the Club actually matched the wage offer of Hull City but the player wanted to try himself at a higher level. I think most of us always knew this ...

2) Leon Constantine : the striker wanted to leave at Christmas and was trying to negotiate a pre-contract agreement will Hull City but the Tigers didn't want him. Tilson confirmed that he only wanted to see committed players at Roots Hall - "I not worried [Constantine's] gone." Neither am I ...

3) Wayne Gray : he wants to take the penalties next season and apparently told Tilson that "I want to play for Southend and score goals". I think many players out of a job might possiby probably say the same thing, Wayne ...

4) Kevin Maher : he will remain captain next season. "The side respects him," said Tilson.

5) Darryl Flahavan : Tilson seems certain that Flahavan will sign and confirmed that the keeper has said that he would be happy to fight for his place alongside Griemink.

6) Fossetts Farm : Ron Martin seems confident that SUFC will be playing in a new shiny stadium by the 2006/07 season ...

WS

Guess that's cleared that little lot up them!

Point 6).
We've waited several years for the Fossetts Farm project and it's great that the new stadium is definitely going to happen, but is there no other detail - Plans, Provisions, Talking Points, Smaller Capacity [with options to expand?].

On that last part, I cannot see the point in 16000 seats, if we can only attract 4-5000 gates [6000 when we were in the old 1st Division]. With only the outside chance of a Premiership club coming to visit [IF and when we get a cup run], I think 10000 seats is ample. The atmosphere will be better and IF we reserve land for expanding the ground to 20000+ seats in the future, when we climb the league ladder as we did in the 90's, it will be better suited to our position.

You quite rightly stated that when we were in the old First Division, we still got relatively small crowds... so why would we even need 20,000 seats if we got back up there?

Boys that was back in the older days and i thibk that we would definatly get many more fans if we was in the First Division/Championship club. Football interest in Southend has increased and will do if we was to get into League 1 and then even more if we was to get into the Championship league!

Yes, that's right... back in the days when all we had was black and white TV coverage!

It wasn't that long ago... and save for the bonanza days, we're not getting huge amounts over and above what we've had for the last few seasons (albeit a climb in crowd size, which is great to see).

I agree that we may get slightly larger crowds than we did in the early - mid 90's, but although this is pure speculation, do we need a stadium that seats 16 - 20,000 fans?

If we build a ground with the option of expanding capacity later, that's fine. First we have to get back up to those heady heights and see what demand is like... but a large ground with empty seats is costly to keep up and running.

And yes, there is interest in football in Southend... just a shame that past and present shows that it's not in the direction of Southend United.

 

[SoC]

Another point. Jay Smith, although doing pre-season training needs to have a plate removed from his foot in August, keeping him out for 5 weeks. I suspect that means we wont see him figure in 1st team plans until October.

 

[overseas shrimper]

Quote[/b] (SoC @ July 06 2004,10:09)]Another point. Jay Smith, although doing pre-season training needs to have a plate removed from his foot in August, keeping him out for 5 weeks. I suspect that means we wont see him figure in 1st team plans until October.

And he needs what? 25 games this season to have his contract extended?

Oh dear!

 

[Fat Bastid]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ July 06 2004,08:19)]it's great that the new stadium is definitely going to happen,

Don't you think the confidence is a tad misplaced considering plans for the ground have yet to be submitted, accepted by the council etc?

 

[footymad13]

Quote[/b] (Prophet of Doom! @ July 06 2004,09:21)]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ July 06 2004,08:19)]it's great that the new stadium is definitely going to happen,

Don't you think the confidence is a tad misplaced considering plans for the ground have yet to be submitted, accepted by the council etc?

Just what i was about to say, the plans have yet to be submitted and all we know at the moment is we are having a new B&Q in Southend.

However its looking promising ...

16,000 is the best capacity. It shows ambition yet its realistic. The 2000 plans were brilliant in my eyes. A lovely main stand ala Huddersfield, KC. and 3 sided bowl, it looked classy and modern and different to the usual.

10,000 is a bit defeatist, I see no reason in why the club should not be a devil and go for it. The new stadium effect should help along with any future success.

Southend playing at a brand new state of the art stadium is much more attractive than playing at RH.

 

[Mick]

Quote[/b] (overseas shrimper @ July 06 2004,09:09)]If we build a ground with the option of expanding capacity later, that's fine. First we have to get back up to those heady heights and see what demand is like... but a large ground with empty seats is costly to keep up and running.

.

Why?  Having a slightly bigger ground than strictly necessary shouldn't cost that much more "to keep up and running". Plastic seats don't require much maintenance!

Look at some of the events that, say, Reading and Hull have staged at their new stadia; it is very shortsighted just to base the capacity on currently envisaged crowds for low division football.

IF we are going to build it, let's do it properly!!

 

[Technician]

No disrespect to those with views different from mine, but lets face it, I would like to see a stadium almost full with fans supporting our club and if there were 10000+ fans champing at the bit to watch our club play every home game, then I would have no objections to a 16000 seater stadium... but realistically [LDV Final Cardiff aside], will we ever consistently attract that many people even if we are a top six or seven side pushing for promotion. I can hear the chants from opposing supporters now... Big Ground, No Fans!!!

Agreed PoD... nothing's cut & dried, but I am more optimistic about the new ground [This Time!]. If we get out of the third division and our attendance base increases, I will be more optimistic about the capacity. Let's see what happens, eh!!!

 

[overseas shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Mick @ July 06 2004,11:07)]

Quote[/b] (overseas shrimper @ July 06 2004,09:09)]If we build a ground with the option of expanding capacity later, that's fine. First we have to get back up to those heady heights and see what demand is like... but a large ground with empty seats is costly to keep up and running.

.

Why? Having a slightly bigger ground than strictly necessary shouldn't cost that much more "to keep up and running". Plastic seats don't require much maintenance!

Look at some of the events that, say, Reading and Hull have staged at their new stadia; it is very shortsighted just to base the capacity on currently envisaged crowds for low division football.

IF we are going to build it, let's do it properly!!

So all you need to do is look after the seats to maintain a stadium on and off of match days?

I agree that we should build it properly if it happens, and that we should build for a larger capacity than we need... and that's why I personally think we should build a ground of up to 16,000 (otherwise I'd be thinking in the region of 10,000 max)... but there's got to be a line between what is a sensible figure over and above our current and possible future needs and what is (up to now) unnecessary. We just differ on that figure.

 

[Fat Bastid]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ July 06 2004,10:11)]No disrespect to those with views different from mine, but lets face it, I would like to see a stadium almost full with fans supporting our club and if there were 10000+ fans champing at the bit to watch our club play every home game, then I would have no objections to a 16000 seater stadium... but realistically [LDV Final Cardiff aside], will we ever consistently attract that many people even if we are a top six or seven side pushing for promotion. I can hear the chants from opposing supporters now... Big Ground, No Fans!!!

Agreed PoD... nothing's cut & dried, but I am more optimistic about the new ground [This Time!]. If we get out of the third division and our attendance base increases, I will be more optimistic about the capacity. Let's see what happens, eh!!!

Absolutely right Mr Technical man!

IIRC when we were in the dizzy heights of Division One our home attendances, apart fromWet Spam never went into 5 figures so a 10,000 seater would be ok, i guess.

Whate ever happened to Peterborough United, at home on a cold Friday night with 15,000 fans in The Hall? Those were the days.

I too am more optimistic than ever about our ground but never underestimate the power of KARERS Sue Steer and her bloody croonies!

 

[BluePartridge]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ July 06 2004,10:11)]I can hear the chants from opposing supporters now... Big Ground, No Fans!!!

Oh no we'd be the laughing stock of the division!

If coupled with some good positive promotion of SUFC, and if we get good facilities at FF then I'm sure the crowd will go up.

 

[Technician]

Quote[/b] (Prophet of Doom! @ July 06 2004,10:17)]

Quote[/b] (Technician @ July 06 2004,10:11)]No disrespect to those with views different from mine, but lets face it, I would like to see a stadium almost full with fans supporting our club and if there were 10000+ fans champing at the bit to watch our club play every home game, then I would have no objections to a 16000 seater stadium... but realistically [LDV Final Cardiff aside], will we ever consistently attract that many people even if we are a top six or seven side pushing for promotion. I can hear the chants from opposing supporters now... Big Ground, No Fans!!!

Agreed PoD... nothing's cut & dried, but I am more optimistic about the new ground [This Time!]. If we get out of the third division and our attendance base increases, I will be more optimistic about the capacity. Let's see what happens, eh!!!

Absolutely right Mr Technical man!

IIRC when we were in the dizzy heights of Division One our home attendances, apart fromWet Spam never went into 5 figures so a 10,000 seater would be ok, i guess.

Whate ever happened to Peterborough United, at home on a cold Friday night with 15,000 fans in The Hall?  Those were the days.

I too am more optimistic than ever about our ground but never underestimate the power of KARERS Sue Steer and her bloody croonies!  

Blimey... forgot all about K.A.R.E.R.S.!!! That's certainly knocked my confidence

Have they raised any objections to B&Q?

Increased traffic, B&Q customers parking outside their houses... what a nightmare

 

[Guest]

I think that the LDV vans cup final will prove to be the spark that ignites a raging inferno of local support for Southend.

More and more people are catching the fever and I can honestly say that I have never seen more kids wearing Southend shirts.

You get to know the faces in the area of Roots hall in which you usually sit but towards the end of last season I noticed a lot of new ones and even groups of women turning up to watch matches, something I have never seen before.

 

[The Artful Shrimper]

I wonder if Sue Steer went to Cardiff with us?