The shambolic soap opera at Southend United has taken a few more dramatic twists this week. On Tuesday it was revealed that chairman Ron Martin has been arrested for sexual assault, yes sexual assault (as if his financial problems aren't enough), against his house cleaner. I would like to stress that he has only been arrested, not charged, and that he has been released on bail until August. Martin denies the accusation and I personally doubt that there's any truth in it. Nevertheless, it is more damaging publicity for himself and the club. Martin released a statement explaining that he has been at home recently recovering from operations on both knees and that the supposed incident occured when the cleaner helped him up from a fall. Let's hope this matter is resolved swiftly and that he can get back to sorting out his football club.
Then this morning, it was announced that Adam Barrett and Alan McCormack, captain and vice-captain respectively of the team for the last two or three seasons, have had their contracts terminated due to a wage cap being imposed on the club and presumably, those two exceeding that cap. Neither player was brilliant last season (who was?) but they have both given good service to the club for a number of years and both are big characters in the dressing room who will be missed, particularly Barrett who has been at the club since 2004 and who I wrote about in my last blog. Regardless of quality, the team can't afford to being losing numbers at the moment. With our first friendly against Ipswich just two weeks away, we have 10 players under contract (2 of whom are on the transfer list) plus 2 players who haven't yet officially signed new contracts. It's also disappointing that we couldn't sell Barrett and McCormack and make some money from them. We really need to start acquiring players rather than losing them soon, otherwise there seems to a serious danger that we might not have a team next season. Oh and just to add another little ingredient to this royal mess, physio John Stannard, another member of staff who has given long and loyal service to the club, has been released and youth-team physio Ben Clarkson promoted to the first-team post. And you thought watching England was bad...
Billy Blenheim
*Image courtesy of the Southend Evening Echo
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