FRUSTRATED Southend United supporters are set to protest against the running of the club this weekend.

The Shrimpers sit bottom of the League Two table and have been given a six week extension to pay off a tax bill of close to £500,000.

And the ongoing difficulties have led to life-long fan Lee Jarvis helping to organise a protest which will take place following Saturday’s clash with Morecambe at Roots Hall.

“The constant winding-up orders, late payment of staff and players, transfer embargos and a lack of progress regarding the new stadium has left us and most fans extremely worried for the future of the club,” explained Jarvis.

“The owner’s statements do very little to ease our concerns as he seems to want to point the finger at everyone else except himself for the position we find ourselves in.

“With the next High Court date in just five weeks time and £493,000 to pay to HMRC we are genuinely worried we won’t have a club left soon to support and will follow the same fate as Bury and more recently Macclesfield.”

Blues have started the season with four successive defeats.

And Jarvis has chosen to act as he feels the club have now become a laughing stock.

“The purpose of the protest is against the owner Ron Martin and the way he is running the club,” said Jarvis.

“Other clubs in the EFL such as Fleetwood and Accrington for example have half our average attendances yet run their clubs in a lot more efficient way and without huge debt.

“He has made our club the laughing stock of the EFL.”

Jarvis was keen to point out the organisers of the protest remains fully behind the team and new manager Mark Molesley who he feels is a ‘great appointment’.

But Jarvis has never been more concerned about the club.

“I’m extremely worried,” said Jarvis.

“This is the worst I have known the club in 33 years and I know speaking to many older fans that they also share the same view.

“At least in the past the club still owned Roots Hall and there was some light at the end of the tunnel but we don’t own anything now apart from our name.

“Our message to Ron is either pay up or sell up.”

Those taking part in the protest will meet outside the club shop at 4.45pm with all social distancing measures being followed.

The group have also been in talks with Essex Police and Jarvis wants as many fans as possible to attend.

“We urge as many fans as possible not to wait until it’s too late and make your voices heard,” said Jarvis.

“We have to show we won’t put up with how badly the club is being run anymore but the protest will be a peaceful one with social distancing strictly being adhered to.

“We appreciate that with Covid this is not the easiest time to protest but we might not have much time left as a club.”

And Jarvis says the organisers of the protest also feel prospective buyers should be given the opportunity to come forward. 

“Some fans on various fans forums will say, who will buy us, we don't have any assets,” said Jarvis.

“Well I would argue that by saying ask most Brighton fans what a new owner can do to a club.

“They had no ground, they had to rent the Withdean Stadium, an athletics track, and they had massive debts.

“A new owner came in, cleared the debt and built a new stadium and look where they are now.

“They also had similar average crowds to us back then.

“Now of course we are not saying it's always that easy but it's clear he can no longer fund the club based on recent history so if that's the case it's time to be honest and put the club up for sale.”