On March 1, the club will find itself at the High Court, where Martin must pay the £1.4 million he owes to HMRC. If he fails to do so, a future for Southend United seems unlikely. The club has been failing to pay players, staff, and St John’s Ambulance, which have threatened over the last few weeks not to attend games.
Ron Martin, a property developer from Essex, bought the club for £4 million in 1998, and his popularity among fans has declined ever since. They are desperate to ‘get Martin out’, and multiple protests have occurred over the years in response to the owners’ growing debts.
Some angry fans are part of The Shrimpers Trust, a space created for Southend United fans wanting information and involvement in the goings on of the club. There are over 800 members, and membership involves representation at meetings with the club’s board members and subsidized travel to away games.
In November of 2022, The Shrimpers Trust made a loan of £40,000 to cover the wages of non-playing staff. Members have had meetings with local MP Anna Firth and have written to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Football, urging them to meet with the fans and offer knowledge and a helping hand.
Rising East spoke to life-long Southend fan Michael Stevenson about the club’s precarious future. Stevenson said: “This situation seems unbelievable considering that Southend United has had the same owner and chairman for 25 years.
“Over such a long time, you would hope Ron Martin would have presided over a gradual improvement. Not a decline that now takes us to the edge of extinction.
“I’ve supported this club for as long as I can remember. Every Saturday, I’m in those stands with the same familiar faces cheering on the players. This club deserves to stay alive, and my hope is something will be done to clear our debts before the 1st of March.”
Supporters have also taken to Twitter to question the coverage of Southend’s situation, “How come there has been no news coverage of what’s happening at Southend United?” One replied: “Because the media want to make more money covering the top 6 rather than clubs in a community about to break.”
It’s no secret that fans of non-league clubs feel like the issues being faced are pushed under the carpet and ignored, with higher-performing Premier League clubs taking all the spotlight.
Southend United have been struggling on and off the pitch for some time now, having two successive relegations and a 30% decline in their matchday audience.
This, however, wasn’t the case at the club’s most recent home game, which many fear will be the last, with an attendance of almost 7,000, over a thousand more people than only a month before. Community members came together to celebrate Southend United at their stadium Roots Hall, and saw them achieve a comfortable 1-0 win against Gateshead in the second half of February.
Fans also protested along the Highstreet before the game, holding a large sign saying ‘Making a killing our club. Martin out’ making their voices heard and opinion known. Those travelling to Devon for the club’s last game before the March 1 deadline against Torquay United have plans to bring more flags and signs along in protest.
Kevin Maher, Southend United boss and previous player for ten years, has said: “We keep working and we keep fighting because if you do that long enough, some things will come good for you.”
Despite the mess off the pitch, Southend have had a successful season, currently 6th in the National League table. This is a huge improvement from ending last season’s 13th. However, this position is not where fans want the club to be despite the improvement. Southend were relegated from League One in 2020 after finishing 22nd, and the following season were relegated from League Two, finishing 23rd. Currently, the possibility of a return to League One seems unlikely.
With the March 1 deadline only a few days away, supporters are left questioning if this is the end for Southend United. But many haven’t lost hope and are continuing to create social media platforms and group chats to work together to try and help. If this is the end for Southend United, dedicated fans will continue their constant protesting and support.