Southend have seen their match stopped with balls and rats thrown onto the pitch a day after owner Ron Martin ‘drives his car into fans’.
Shrimpers supporters protested during Tuesday night’s match with Maidenhead United at Roots Hall, once again it was stopped with the Roots Hall faithful making their feelings known.
There are serious concerns for the future of the club, with a court date planned for next month (October) and calls grow for chairman Ron Martin to sell up and leave.
Protests have been held outside Ron Martin’s house and at games during the recent months, demanding for him to sell the club.
A spokesperson for the Southend Fan protest group said another protest will be taking place in the 25th minute of the match against Maidenhead, and that they did!
He said: “The various supporters groups have again combined forces to call for a protest in the 25th minute of tonight’s match.
“The 25th minute is said to represent 25 years of Ron Martin’s ownership of the club, which has seen its stadium transferred to his ownership, tens of millions of debt added to its balance sheet, relegations to its lowest point in a century and endless embargoes, court hearings and now points deductions.
“The fans are calling on all sides of the stadium to once again unite to highlight the club’s woes whilst a sale fails to be agreed and bring pressure on Ron Martin to leave immediately.”
Play is stopped as tennis balls and toy rats are thrown onto the pitch pic.twitter.com/cryNOLSbhy
— Chris Phillips (@CJPhillips1982) September 19, 2023
The match stopped for four minutes pic.twitter.com/VDkKIPZk6g
— Chris Phillips (@CJPhillips1982) September 19, 2023
Loud & clear ????️ #MartinOut pic.twitter.com/rdZ4eVcO5Y
— The Blue Room ???? (@blueroomsufc) September 19, 2023
#martinout pic.twitter.com/u14EnQLBPK
— Stadium Photography (@davethephoto) September 19, 2023
#MartinOut #Southend #Rontherat pic.twitter.com/J1aG4sOGSl
— Kay Fogg (@Kaylalula) September 19, 2023
On Monday, Southend Fan Protest Group @fan_southend1 uploaded a video, saying: “As a consequence of blocking the sale of the club, Mr Rat’s driveway was blocked from the public footpath. He drove his car into peaceful fans regardless.
“He’s not only lost control of the club, he’s lost control of his mind. ???????? #MartinOut”
Last month, the club’s National League game against Eastleigh had been briefly halted as fans threw tennis balls on the pitch in a protest against owner Ron Martin.
The incident came in the 10th minute of the match, referencing the 10-point penalty handed to the club two days ago over their tax debt.
The punishment came after a High Court ruling to grant the club a final 42-day deadline to avoid being wound up.
They have yet to clear debt of £275,000 owed to HM Revenue & Customs and have total debts of £2.5m and have been given until 4 October to secure the club’s future.
Owner and chairman Ron Martin, who has been involved with Southend for over 25 years, said the sale of the club to an unnamed Australian buyer should be finalised, but it remains quiet to this day.
SEE MORE: Several Southend fans invade pitch in protest before becoming heated with angry York fans
As a consequence of blocking the sale of the club, Mr Rat’s driveway was blocked from the public footpath. He drove his car into peaceful fans regardless.
He’s not only lost control of the club, he’s lost control of his mind. ????????#MartinOut pic.twitter.com/ZH0bmtInmq— Southend Fan Protest Group (@fan_southend1) September 18, 2023
At Basildon Magistrates Court for nPower v Southend United FC.
Ron Martin here, flanked by security. Not legally represented.
Adjourned to 3 Oct due to lack of court time – day before High Court case.
Floodlights will be on tonight. We live to fight another day.#MartinOut ???? pic.twitter.com/sPQL6X1ecd
— London Shrimper (@londonshrimper) September 19, 2023
This is what Twitter users had to say as the Southend match is stopped with tennis balls and toy rats thrown onto the pitch…
@RFCJoeJ: Well in ????????????????????????
@mattywazza: As a Blackpool fan, keep up with the hard work and get other bad owners out of the club
@Ryan_1982_UTB: Well done Southend Fans, all the best from an Oxford Fan #MartinOut
@Brad89827391: #MartinOut
@LRbix: Keep it up, please. ????
@NottsCountyZone: Martin Out from all at Notts County ????
@biggins_louis: Disgrace, words mean nothing but I send my sincere apologies to every southend fan who has coped so well with this clown never known out like it.#Martinout
@ding_dan_18: Keep it up. Let’s kick crooked owners out of the game
@bagpuss83: True colours finally revealed. Ron the Rat showing everyone what he is #MartinOut
@Readingboy1871: Keep going Southend I hope a miracle happens for you! Genuinely thinking about joining & uniting with you at your away game in Aldershot! Football is suppose to be about the fans it’s in the blood. Genuinely thinking about Aldershot if I’m welcome?
@ElmParkRoyals: Love to see this ????????????
@Nothing_But_T: We all stand with Southend fans #MartinOut
@Andy120985: Can understand the Southend supporters frustrations, If ever the chants of ‘we want the chaiman (Martin) out’ were justified this is one of them occasions
@Lapin36870142: Martin get the hint!! get out of our club you greedy rat #MartinOut
@dannybolton23: Ah the good old days, fair play to them for finally making a stand ????
@James_Poxon96: Instead of moaning about the glazers get this in the media @GNev2 an actual club in crisis. Might not be a club in less than a month
@capaled: Hopefully Southend find a new owner that’s a decent one and also cares for the club
@10pounds_: Solidarity to you all! Owners like yours and Dai Yongge at Reading are killing clubs and have no regard for the fans and communities it’s affecting. #MartinOut #SellBeforeWeDai
@adamReadingFC: quality, hoping for you ????
@ScottyBarber12: What is he doing man?!
Southend United fans stopping the game by throwing rats onto the pitch in the 25th min in recognition of the 25 years we’ve had Ron Martin as owner – its time to go. We don’t deserve this.
Special mention to Harry Cardwell taking the rat out – shame it wasn’t Ron.#MartinOut ???? pic.twitter.com/2pkEbp6Vco
— London Shrimper (@londonshrimper) September 19, 2023
