the shrimpers’ revival: how fans are shaping southend’s comeback

Fair Game’s Steven Piper takes a closer look at the comings and goings at Roots Hall

SOUTHEND UNITED’S recent history has been marked by financial uncertainty, fractured ownership, and deep concern from its loyal fanbase. Mike Paterson, a Shrimpers Trust Board member and lifelong supporter since 1965, has witnessed the club’s challenges over decades, including the recent COSU consortium takeover that offers real reasons for hope.

The club’s stadium, Roots Hall, was rebuilt, and largely funded by, the supporters and gifted to Southend United by its fans in the post-war period. However, in 1998, the club was bought by Ron Martin, who separated the stadium from the club’s ownership. This move, designed to leverage other business assets, saddled the club with debt and initiated a prolonged period of decline. Martin’s stewardship also included the steady decline of Roots Hall, pushing towards a costly move to a new stadium, a process fraught with controversy and setbacks.

Describing the ownership situation, Mike reflects: “Rogue ownership – a slow drip feed of dereliction and then rapid decline.” He adds, “Every time we attend, the stadium is a living testimony of the previous ownership failure.”

The impact of these decisions has deeply affected the whole community. Mike highlights the club’s importance, stating, “The club should be part of the community. It is the heart of the community for many, though previous ownership has made it difficult to reach out to the wider audience, but that is all being improved now helped by the new custodians and the Southend United Community Foundation.”

He notes that “MPs and the City Council have been very supportive.” Fans actively mobilised in response to the crisis. Protests, including symbolic actions like throwing rats onto the pitch, drew attention to the huge frustrations due to Martin's ownership. The Shrimpers Trust has been instrumental in representing fan interests, lobbying for accountability, and supporting efforts to secure more stable governance.

The consortium’s recent takeover is seen as a real turning point. The split between club and stadium ownership remains an issue to overcome but there is cautious optimism that a new era of stability and transparency is now possible if accountability remains a priority.

The wider community has experienced the ripple effects of the club’s difficulties. Football clubs often serve as community hubs, and Southend’s struggle diminished its influence locally but there is now a real sense of excitement again as illustrated by the 28,000+ fans who recently travelled to Wembley for the National League play-off Final.

Southend United's decline reinforced calls for stronger engagement and support mechanisms. Governance and regulation remain critical issues. Southend’s situation has been raised in Parliament on a number of occasions highlighting the need for more effective oversight of football club ownership. Mike emphasises the importance of regulation, saying,

“I’m in favour of a regulator and it's required. It must be independent though, truly independent, and needs credibility from the start.” He advocates for “tighter and more robust Owners’ and Directors’ tests, with more regular scrutiny, more control over separation of assets, and a fairer financial flow of monies down the pyramid.”

Mike also stresses that “fans should not suffer for the transgressions of ownership" and also notes the financial stress that is created by lack of proper distribution of funds down the pyramid. “Academy funding, for example, is not provided if you drop out of the EFL.” He urges that the Football Governance Bill “needs to be fully embraced by the clubs as well as the fans.”

Southend’s experience underscores the precarious position of many lower-league clubs navigating financial pressures and ownership disputes. The growing strength of Supporters’ Trusts and ongoing calls for reform offer hope that football clubs can once again become sustainable, community-centred institutions.

This article is part of a special series highlighting the voices of fans, clubs, and communities at the very time the Football Governance Bill is making its way through Parliament.