New signing controversy latest

Southend's latest signing, Matt Paterson, found himself plunged into a controversy that could very well threaten his new club's future.

Paterson, was signed today on a free transfer from Southampton, to replace Lee Barnard who moved in the opposite direction for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £175,000.

The 20 year old forward was then quoted on the official site as saying "Tilly sold me the club".

However this remark has produced a furious response from Sainsburys, who claim that Steve Tilson couldn't possibly have sold him the club.

Sainsburys spokesman Jamie Oliver cited the November loan from the supermarket chain to a Martin Dawn group company, that was secured by Martin Dawn plc's shareholding in Southend United. The thick-lipped face of Sainsburys, went onto explain that this meant that the club wasn't Steve Tilson's to sell, because it was already mortgaged to the supermarket giant and Steve Tilson would have to "try something new today" to entice that centre-half that the club are supposedly also after.