You've got to give it to Barry, and many people would like to, the snooker supremo, and Leyton Orient chairman, did his best, but if Uncle Ron does take Southend into administration, we will not go immediatly into the Blue Square South, it might just take a couple of seasons after we pick up the normal ten point penalty!
At the Football League AGM that has taken place in Malta over the past few days, most of the turkeys decided not to vote for Christmas!
It's doubtful that Bazza will just let this go in what he views as 'cheating', and to many the current 10 point penalty is not enough to deter teams from taking that route to clear debts, something Blues chairman Ron Martin has insisted he will never do. (Though I wouldn't bet against it with the way things are at the club.)
However, the Football League's board have decided to review the penalties levied on clubs to see if they need a tweak or two.
They will tighten up regulations that confirm such sanctions will be effective where the football club is part of a group company. This would have hit Southampton the last time around when they tried to take the League on about that very point.
Also agreed was that teams failing to lodge their accounts with the Football League at the same time that they are required by Companies House, will be hit by a transfer embargo until those accounts are filed.
Not sure SUFC have been guilty of that, but others, such as Norwich and Swindon, certainly have.
Thankfully there was a new rule that affected events on the pitch, but to be honest as it will only hit clubs with squads of over 25 players over the age of 21, the Shrimpers will not be bothered, as they hardly have a squad worthy of the name at the moment!
Anyway, at least 10 must be 'home grown' players and registered in domestic football for three seasons before their 21st birthday. No confirmation yet on whether that includes all parts of the UK or just English born players.
The Fit and Proper Persons Test, which many will wonder how Uncle Ron passed, will now be known simply as the Director's Test!
This has been chosen to bring it in line with similar rules adopted by other footballing bodies, and not to toughen it up so it would stop future Ron's chances of taking clubs to the the brink of extinction!
For the Football League report on their AGM in sunny Malta, notice it wasn't in Scunthorpe, go here:
www.football-league.co.uk/latestnews/20100608/
football-league-agm-report_2245681_2066602