Bin Martin: Ron issues Bin Laden style video tape

A tape said to be from the bunker of Martin Dawn chairman, Ron Martin, has been aired on www.southendunited.co.uk, a web-site with known links to Martin Dawn.

Directly addressing supporters losing the faith, the tape is seen by analysts as a direct response to rumours that have been circulating for months that the club was as good as dead. In it Martin offers words of hope and vows to continue the struggle.

The authenticity (of his answers) remains unverified.

Martin, whose health has been in question, has seemingly been laying low of late, reportedly hiding from creditors who seek him high and low. It is believed that he is hiding with his head in the sand.

Exclusive: embargo lifted

The embargo preventing Ron Martin from blogging looks finally to have been lifted, the Southend Afternoon Echo can eventually report.

Southend manager Steve "Tilly" Tilson was able to name more than three subs on the bench for the first time in months on Saturday, including reserve goalkeeper/comedy American Ian Joyce. It is believed that Joyce had previously been unable to be named on the bench as part of the terms of the Sean Morrison loan, although the club never actually got round to officially admitting this, much like they never got round to paying their taxes.

A blog from Ron Martin explaining away talk of transfer embargoes in the past tense as a "minor inconvenience" and saying that we should have trusted him all along is expected imminently.