Southend United look set for another summer of misery as the takeover to own the club rumbles on. Despite contracts being exchanged before Christmas last year the consortium led by Justin Rees are still to wrestle control from Ron Martin.
The Shrimpers finished in seventh place last season despite a ten-point deduction enforced early on for non-payment of HMRC debts. That also incurred a transfer embargo which boss Kevin Maher worked under for almost half of the campaign.
The embargo has now been in force once again since May 17th due to ‘non-compliance with National League regulations’ and leaving the management team in limbo whilst they try to prepare for the new season.
The conclusion of the deal is being held up between Southend City Council and Martin over the Fossetts Farm Development. Originally the destination for a new stadium, the 70-year-old owns the land and wants approval to build housing.
Not helped by local elections taking place despite cross-party support, the council have since assured supporters they had agreed with the building element to the site. Due diligence on the side of those in elected power appears to be no closer to a resolution leaving everyone connected with the club playing a waiting game.
A winding-up order brought by Stewarts Law was adjourned for six weeks just recently based on unpaid invoices ironically from Martin for the previous defence of the club. Creditors have been very patient in waiting for monies to be forthcoming whilst waiting for the sale to be completed, with Rees’s consortium releasing a statement a week ago hinting at the frustration of the time taken so far.
Having invested somewhere in the region of £3 million plus to keep the club trading and staff paid, patience is beginning to wear thin on the side of those paying the bills leaving a worry for supporters that the longer time drags on the more chance there is of Martin holding onto the club.
Meanwhile, Maher and his team are again working with one hand tied behind their back until they are able to freely sign players, the likelihood that targets will be in the hands of other clubs very soon.
After a positive National League season for the Shrimpers, hope has been high that they can get their house in order and challenge for a return to the Football League.
That now rests in the hands of both the council and Martin to ensure Southend United not only survives and retains more than 100 years of history but have the opportunity to build on the fine work their management team have set in motion.
The club are due back in court at the end of June by which time Rees will need to be in control of the club permanently or the fear is real that the Shrimpers could see in the new season under administration or much worse, not at all.
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