'Echo not banned from covering Shrimpers': Uncle Ron and the press at it again!

Last updated : 25 February 2010 By westfield shrimper

v Echo

It was only on Monday that Chris Phillip's article on a Tilly quote after the Tranmere game squeezed in a mention that the players had not been paid again, this time for January.

S24 requested that the club should deny or at least comment on these consistant rumours and the Echo should name their sources in such a serious matter, and finally that the parties involved 'got their act together'.

Sadly, as if times were not tough enough as it was, they seem unable to do that.

The local paper opened a new front in the on-going battle by stating that Blues Captain Adam Barrett had been banned by the club from handing his regular weekly column.

www.echo-news.co.uk posted: 'We normally talk to Adam each week to help him compile his column, but yesterday we discovered he has been ordered not to co-operate with the paper. Other players are also apparently banned from speaking to us, although we will continue to offer them the opportunity'

An email from the club told us: "After the Echo ran the line about the players' wages, we will not be co-operating with the Echo."

Manager Steve Tilson said he was unable to make any comment on the wages situation when asked after the recent Tranmere game. The problems with the salaries have now also been reported in the national media. Sources at the club confirm players have still not been paid for January, four weeks on from the normal pay day.'

Again with the sources, are they from players or from staff within the club, OK, tell us. As long as they know the names fair enough, they don't have to make them public, but give us more information.

S24 receives e-mails all the time from so called 'sources' giving all sorts of secrets and exclusives; no proof, not posted. 

The 'reported in the national media' quote, as if it gives the story a seal of approval, is frankly rubbish and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Any bored hack logging onto newsnow could have picked up the quote and ran with it.

The media circus following each other as, again, anybody catching Charlie Brooker's newsnight would have seen.

However, within minutes of the Echo story the official website was responding with one of it's official statement we have come to know and love over the last few months.

This one under the headline 'Barrett Banned'.

www.southendunited.co.uk said: 'The club have not banned the Echo from covering Southend United, it has simply reduced it's level of co-operation with this newspaper. We can confirm that the Echo are welcome at our game with Charlton and presume they are to attend as normal.

Our playing staff have a number of commitments, none more important than ensuring the team remains in League One next season, which are of utmost importance. Continued conjecture about off the field matters is unproductive and the entire club is fed up with negative press trying to undermine it's interests.'

Cue the Echo also posting a story about Laurent and Christophe visiting a local school. Nice one. (I hope the kids understood them.)

The clue in the above seems to be 'continued conjecture about off the field matters' which would certainly lead one to believe certain people at SUFC are pissed off with the wages story.

So, deny or explain it Ron, and not keep up this rather childish war of words.

The majority of S24 stories are led by the official site and the Echo, we certainly need them, and the Shrimpers supporting public need them, to both remain on top form and sing from similar song sheets.

All a messy goaless draw at the moment.

We repeat; get your act together folks.

How do you stand in the row between the club chairman and the town's local paper, have a vote, here;
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/polls/voting_polls.asp