It was great to win at Leyton Orient and to finish the year on a high. We probably played better against Colchester…. a game we were also very capable of winning.

Whilst some players have now come back from injury (Jean-Yves M'voto is also expected to return very soon) clearly there are areas we need to strengthen. Lee Barnard has done a tremendous job in becoming one of the Leagues leading scorers but we are not going to succeed with Lee alone. It was therefore good to see Adam Barrett and Allan McCormack both getting on the score sheet for the first time this season against the "O's" which will also help their confidence.

With the January window looming we particularly need reinforcements up front and fingers crossed the squad largely remains injury free in order to maintain continuity. In our promotion years one of the key ingredients was lack of injuries and suspensions enabling the same group of players to work together week in week out. The Club cannot account for the role lady luck plays but I do feel we have not had our fair share so far this season. I know Steve and Paul have targets in mind and hopefully the Club can make announcements very soon to help underpin that continuity.

There is no doubt we have talented players at Southend United and I do wonder how some of our competitors are above us in the League. We have not been played off the park by any team this season and so with the right, like minded, additions I see no reason why we cannot start to climb the table. So much for the immediate few weeks and months…………. what will truly change the fortunes of the Club is the new Stadium. I have previously said the need to meet the Clubs liability to HMRC accelerated the funding I was putting in place to construct the Stadium. In my last Blog I commented that "recently as this week a major piece of the jigsaw" was agreed. I can tell you that we (Roots Hall Limited) have agreed terms to purchase Prospects College and I would hope to exchange that contract within the next 10-14 working days. The remaining properties (shops) we wish to purchase are all potentially subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order. We hope that will not be necessary but are now stepping up our efforts to agree terms. As soon as that is achieved we will immediately be on site with construction. I am sure for many fans that time cannot come soon enough and how exciting it will be to see our new Stadium begin to rise out the ground knowing that its completion will elevate your Club to a new level. I absolutely know this will enable Southend United to fulfil its considerable, hitherto untapped potential.

There has been an enormous amount of planning, energy and investment in the project to date but once we are on site that planning takes on some different dimensions in terms of the Stadium operation. There will be far more commercial opportunities involving greater sponsorship and, of course, the hotel and conferencing as well as the associated restaurants and bars that will be operational throughout the year and contribute significantly.

I plan to set up a Stadium Operating Company and suggested 18 months or so ago to the Shrimpers Trust they might like to be involved. Some years previous, and as part of keeping fans informed, I initiated monthly Liaison meetings with the Shrimpers Trust and whilst I originally had concerns about the Trust itself becoming a "Club within a Club" the relationship has been positive and productive. In knowing what the future holds a few weeks ago I reiterated my suggestion of greater involvement knowing the Trusts stated objective is one of Board representation.

The Club has a two tier system a Football Board and Operational. Clearly it is the Football Board that has the greater "excitement"! Therefore in preparation for the new Stadium and general advancement I have suggested the Trust's Football Board representation becomes effective at the end of the next financial year. Nothing has yet been formalised but I thought supporters would want to know what is in the planning to further the integration. I do not see this as a "Fan on the Board" as I could readily argue every member of the Board is a fan. Each Board member offers something different and the Shrimpers Trust will, I am sure, offer a further dynamic and understanding.

In truth I do not like factions and feel they can be divisive. After all as supporters of the Club we all have the same objective, whatever angle we come from, and ultimately that is the Clubs success.

Over the years the Trust has contributed funds by way of sponsorship, to the Youth system in particular, and I would be very happy for that to continue to be their principle responsibility and objective. Recently the Trust (partly from their collection at matches) contributed £60,000 that may well be used to good effect in the January window. These monies are not to be given to the Club as "pooled funds" but will prove helpful and a further demonstration of how the relationship has evolved to the continuing benefit of the Club.

I started this Blog by saying it was a good to finish the year (The O's!) on a high and whilst we still have some small wrinkles to iron out (including the continuing, but relatively minor, dispute with HMRC surrounding a possible overpayment) I hope that supporters will begin to see a new era emerging. There is still a lot of work to do but I am certain 2010 will overall be a good year for Southend United Football Club and I hope too for ALL of its supporters. My very best wishes.

Up the Blues!

Ron Martin