Southend United Chairman Ron Martin has this evening issued the following statement:

I have no doubt this week has been both trying and a very worrying period for every supporter.

I said in my statement on Tuesday that we have absolutely no wish to escape any debt and as such are doing everything possible to avoid administration. HMRC's change of strategy just 36 hours before the High Court Hearing was, in my view, Machiavellian. That is to say it was done with deliberate intent to burden the Club still further and certainly not in the spirit of cooperation thought to have been agreed with the Football League.

It may interest supporters to know that the steps taken by HMRC on Monday of this week are a first and, in the experience of our lawyers and barrister, have never been seen before.

As of this morning we have managed to put all the building blocks in place to enable the indebtedness to be met. There is further work to be done with our lawyers and in relation to the bank over the weekend and on Monday - so it will go to the wire.

Those of you who know me personally would not expect anything to stand in the way of us winning this battle. I cannot tell you if we will ultimately win but I will never cease in my efforts to steer your Club to calmer waters and the bright future I have promised all of its supporters.

By Tuesday morning I will know for certain if we have been successful in securing the future and will issue a further statement as soon as I have a definitive position.

In the meantime I hope that those of you attending tonight's match will shout louder in support of the Team than never before. At present I am dictating this note from our lawyer's office in London but will do my best to leave soon so that I may join you and my family in support of Steve, Paul and the Players.

Ron Martin
Chairman