Blues Latest news

Southend United Football Club's new stadium plans have been given the green light.

The club's plans for a 22,000-seat stadium at Fossetts Farm were initially given planning permission last year but they were called in by the secretary of state - who has now given the Shrimpers the go-ahead.

Plans for the stadium include hotel and conference facilities, restaurants and a retail development.

Southend chair, Ron Martin, said: "It is with enormous pleasure that I am able to confirm that the decision issued by the secretary of state approved the club's new stadium plans. This is without doubt a pivotal moment in Southend United's history. Once the final points of the decision notice have been considered we will waste no time in commencing construction."

There are a couple of small points that need to be cleared up but Uncle Ron is confident there will be no problem clearing them up. (I hope he's more correct there than his announcement that Hammell was staying!)

This will bring over fifty years of Roots Hall history to a close.

The new stadium is scheduled to open for the start of the 2010/2011 season.

Talking of announcments of players staying, Ron has been telling us that Captain Kev was not going anywhere, certainly not to join the Blues B side of relegation haunted Gillingham. However, the Evening Echo insists he has been training with them, which has been backed up by yesterday's Kent Messenger.

Midfielder Kevin Maher is on the verge of signing for Gillingham until the end of the season after he trained with the club on Thursday. The 31-year-old, who is still contracted to Southend, was given permission to train with the rest of the Gills squad.

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson is keen to add experience to his side. He said: "Hopefully the deal should be tied up (on Thursday). He's been given permission to train and then the two chairmen will be speaking to hopefully tie up a deal until the end of the season. Kevin has got experience. He's been Southend's captain for the past three or four years. He has won titles and tasted relegation so he knows what football is all about. He'll also add composure and quality in the midfield area. His passing is decent and that might just help our forwards get more ball into feet."

Meanwhile, full back Che Wilson is to go under the knife again for his long term Achillies problem and will not play again this season.