Ron Martin: 'I am committed to the future of Southend United'
Well, if things were not tough enough for Ron Martin and the club he runs, the Echo were about to release a story about the Southend chairman that saw him under arrest last week for an 'incident', his word, at the Martin's Benfleet home that involved his wife's cleaner.
Never one to hold back when there's a negative story about, and even for Ron this was verging on the extraordinary, he turned defence into attack and released a statement on the club's official site two and a half hours before the local evening paper could get their version out.
As it is we'll get the 'full story in Wednesday's Echo', which now after Ron Martin's intervention may not be as 'full' as they would like.
Even so, in the minds of the majority of Southend supporters the Shrimpers chairman has taken the club to the brink of ruin, and whatever the facts of this unsavoury 'incident' that will come out over the months to follow, this will just add to the list of reasons for them why Ron Martin should leave and leave as soon as possible.
However, there seems, even after this, he has any intention of doing so.
Martin told www.southendunited.co.uk: "I truly love the football industry and I am committed to the future of Southend United.
However, as chairman of the football club comes profile which can often be a burden as well as a benefit and one that is not controllable.
Nethertheless this is something I have tried to accept with good grace in the best interests of the Club but that is not always possible as sometimes it brings with it a downside of unwarranted and often intrusive attention, which I can assure you very often proves to be extremely upsetting for me and my family.
This event, as you may imagine, is particularly upsetting for my wife and two sons for it is completly without foundation.
I will defend any unwarranted assertions against me and my family vigorously.
In the meantime I will not be deflected from our objective to rebuild the team and recreate the success on the pitch we all crave."
Good luck with that Ron, when we pay the bills that allow to actually sign anyone who can help the rebuilding.
At least, after his chats with the Old Bill re some financial allegations a while back, he knows the way to the police station without asking directions.
Ron through the looking glass continues, the fans continue to suffer, and God only knows when it will ever end.
In the meantime any juicy bits that the employee has actually accused Ron of getting up to, and by the sound of it she actually gets paid, maybe because she works for the wife, may be in the Echo Wednesday, have a flick through first though before coughing up, you don't want to end up with 'Carry On Cleaner'.
As for Mr. Martin's view of events, m'lud, it's all here:
www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~2076468,00.html
But read it in the morning, the images it conjures up in your mind may keep you awake all night, especially the bit about 'domestic chores'.