[themaclad]

fter 25 years in charge - culminating in arguably the most miserable period in the club's history - property developer Ron Martin has sold Southend United Football Club. The Shrimpers said a takeover deal was reached with a consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees. What did it mean to the fans attending Tuesday night's home win against Oxford City?

Short presentational grey line
'Over the moon'
Justin Rees heads the consortium that has agreed to buy Southend
IMAGE SOURCE,SOUTHEND UNITED FC
Image caption,
Justin Rees was the co-founder of Sydney-based company Eighty20 Solutions
Paul Lee was dressed at Roots Hall stadium in stereotypical Australian attire with corks dangling from his hat - a nod to the club's new custodian.

He said the takeover announcement at 16:40 BST was a huge moment for him, his wife and their daughter - all Blues fans.

"I am absolutely ecstatic," said Mr Lee, who was worried the club would be wound up in the High Court on Wednesday over its tax debt to HMRC.

"I am over the moon - no more anxiety scrolling through Instagram and Twitter every day to find out whether we'll have a club come 4 October."

He said he hoped the Shrimpers' transfer embargo would now be lifted.

The club said its HMRC debt, previously estimated at £275,000, had been paid off in full.

Nick and Emily Hardy were at Tuesday night's match with their two children
Nicky Hardy, who has been a Blues fan for more than 25 years, said the last five years had been "pure pain".

The club was relegated from the Football League in 2021 - for the first time in 101 years.

"Ron Martin has just run the club into the ground - embargos, unpaid staff, unpaid players, hopefully this is the end of it - it's great," said Mr Hardy, who said he did not know anything about the incoming owners.

"Beggars can't be choosers. I think they will be good; it's a consortium; I think a lot of local businesses are in there with interest in the club."

Mr Hardy expects the club to now redevelop the stadium, rather than sell it off as housing and relocate to Fossetts Farm - as was the plan under Mr Martin.

He was joined by his two children and wife Emily, who added: "There is still that due diligence [needed from the new owners] to do the job effectively and safely and make sure we are run properly, and not just take over and leave it."

[themaclad]

A consortium headed by Australian Justin Rees is poised to take over Southend United "in early 2024".

The deal had been due to be completed at the beginning of November but was delayed by "legal formalities".

Long-time owner Ron Martin put the club up for sale in March, having been at the helm for 25 years.

"The club is pleased to announce that Ron and the consortium have today exchanged contracts for the sale of Southend United," a statement said.

"The sale is conditional upon Southend Council's approval of certain property transactions that are required to facilitate the club staying at Roots Hall.

"Those terms have been agreed and we expect the club ownership will formally transfer in early 2024."

The consortium, which also includes three lifelong supporters, had previously confirmed that Southend will remain at Roots Hall, their home since 1955.

Martin had favoured a move to a new 21,000-seater stadium at Fossetts Farm - but no work took place at the site, which has now been earmarked for housing.

"Ron and Justin Rees will work together on operational aspects for this interim period prior to formal completion," the statement added.

"During the sale process the club has conducted parallel discussions with the National League and HMRC, and anticipate the transfer embargo being lifted next week.

"We would like to put on record our sincere thanks to the National League for the cooperation they've shown throughout this period."

[St Charles Owl]

Very good news for them, Ron Martin is one of the worst owners in football!!

[themaclad]

Southend head coach Kevin Maher has signed a new "long-term" contract, the National League club have announced.

Maher's assistant Darren Currie and first-team coach Mark Bentley have also signed new deals.

The news comes days after contracts were exchanged for a consortium headed by Australian Justin Rees to complete a takeover, ending the 25-year tenure of owner Ron Martin.

Southend have endured financial problems for a number of years.

The club has been the subject of several winding-up petitions and this season had 10 points deducted for failing to clear their debts, said to total £2.5m.

A transfer embargo and injuries meant Maher only had enough available players to name a single substitute for the game against Bromley on 16 December.

Maher, 47, has said recent months have been "draining like you wouldn't believe" - but the expected takeover has offered hope of a brighter future.

Southend have been as high as the second tier of English football in their history and their former managers include England's World Cup-winning captain, the late Bobby Moore, who was in charge for more than two years during the 1980s.

The club were relegated from the English Football League in 2021 and last season finished eighth and missed out on the National League play-offs.