Wignall, whose reign in charge of the southeast Essex side lasted just under seven months in total, and saw a massive four victories as he led the Seasiders to the brink of the Nationwide Conference for the first time in their 98-year history, has yet to be paid the £4,000 that had apparently been agreed between the ex-Aldershot Town player and manager and Shrimpers supremo Ron Martin.
Wignall had originally asked Blues for £25,000, which represented a third of the remaining wages on his two-year deal at Roots Hall, which was terminated just four months into his first full season, some two weeks after his assistant Stewart Robson had also been dismissed. The final fee is likely to have been around £16,000, but it appears that the final quarter has yet to be paid by Martin and his fellow directors.
Martin and deputy chairman Geoffrey King threatened to counter-sue Wignall for £50,000 after his disastrous period in charge of the Shrimpers, after claiming that he did not fulfil his job responsibilities. The infamous quote attributed to Martin about his former employee was that he could not see the ambition in his appointment’s eyes.
Now the League Managers’ Association, and their head, John Barnwell, have waded into the row, and have declared that they will take Southend United Football Club to court if that is what is required to get Wignall his money. Barnwell told the Southend Evening Echo, “I am growing more and more frustrated with club chairmen who abuse their managers”. Shrimpers’ followers will claim on Martin’s behalf that they have become sick of managers such as ex-Colchester man Wignall abusing their support.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com