Ron elected to League Board

Southend Chairman Ron Martin has been elected to the Football League Board.

Whilst the move will come as a shock to many who will question the wisdom of appointing a man whose club may be wound up before the season, the Southend Afternoon Echo has learnt there were good reasons behind Ron Martin's appointment.

With no London clubs in the division (except Barnet, and if you've ever tried to get there on the Northern Line you'll know they are hardly London) Southend, who will be in town anyway for their weekly appointment at the debtors' section of the High Court, were the natural choice.

The move also negates any concerns over claiming back SUFC's share of Board Members 'travel expenses.

It is unknown whether Mr Martin put himself forward for this prestigious role, or whether he was nominated in his absence when no-one else wanted to do it and someone had the bright idea of giving the role to the bloke who was still on holiday.

Stalk the Blues Day big success/failure

The annual Stalk The Blues day was a tremendous success/ failure with fans from across the county delighted/ furious at the free event hosted at Boots and LacesGarons Park.

Southend fans were United in congratulating/condemning the club for hosting for an event described as "one of the best ones yet"/"a waste of everyone's time" with those delighted/furious supporters vowing to come back next year/get a flag and protest.

The absence of manager Paul Sturrock/the approachability of the squad who gave up their Sunday afternoon to pose for autographs and sign photos with the fans, was commented by many fans on sites such as Shrimperzone.

As kids frolicked in the summer sun, joyfully indulging in the myriad of activities put on by the club, adults were left to rue the lack of a bouncy castle to satisfy them. When asked, Southend fans were quick to congratulate the commercial department for putting on such an enjoyable event and the players for being so cheerful/blame Ron Martin and Billy Jennings for the event not sating their stalking demands and the absence of a bar.

Southend sign "new McCormack"

Southend moved quickly to replace the Tenerife Charlton Reserves bound Alan McCormack when the League Two club announced that Barry Corr had signed a pre-contract agreement.

Corr,who is Irish and has an abysmal disciplinary record, is seen as a like for like replacement for the departed McCormack. Whilst Corr is allegedly a forward rather than a midfielder, he shares with his compatriot a similarly dire shooting record, having netted a mere three times last season. Beleagured residents of Shakespeare Drive reacted with dismay at the prospect, although to be fair it is not yet known whether the former musician will be as wayward.

Fans at McCormack's old club, Mayhem, treated the news with cautious optimism and hoped that the signing was evidence that Southend United was indeed on an upward spiral.

Dave Smith II

As Southend fans attempt to digest news of the sacking of legendary manager Steve Tilson, rumours were mounting regarding his replacement.

As mooted in the Southend Afternoon Echo back in March*, chairman Ron Martin, looks set to appoint a Scottish former Plymouth and Dundee (they are the same as Dundee United, right?) manager in an attempt to turn around the woes.

Southend have had great success with Scottish Plymouth managers, with Bob Jack and Dave Smith both having also managed Plymouth. With Dave Webb, having also cut his managerial teeth in the South West at Torquay, the area is clearly a hot-bed for producing managerial talent, but whoever is in the Roots Hall hot-seat looks like having their work cut-out.


*When we said Dave Smith, we meant Paul Sturrock and when we said assistant manager we clearly meant manager.

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.

World Cup Official Sponsors Controversy Latest

FIFA's crackdown on non-official sponsors and ambush marketing took a further twist when it was revealed that no players featuring in adverts for rivals of official matchball sponsor Adidas, would be allowed to participate in the World Cup quarter-finals.

The controversy follows hot on the heels of RobbieEarle-gate, which saw 30 Dutch models arrested for the heinous crime of wearing unofficial merchandising.

The clampdown is a blow for Nike, whose self-indulgent ad features the likes of Rooney (England), Ronaldo (Portugal), Cannavaro (Italy), Ronaldinho (Brazil) and Ribery (France).




With only Brazil bowing to FIFA's requirements and leaving out Ronaldinho, it meant a quarter-final stage bereft of most of Europe's top guns - and Portugal.

Under FIFA's wide ranging powers, Roger Federer was also prevented from progressing past the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, because it is on at the same time as the World Cup.