MORE than 100 fans of Southend United have backed the Echo's open letter to its outgoing chairman over a revised plan to save the club.

 

A controversial plan for 1,300 new homes at Fossetts Farm, which would need to pass to unlock the sale of the Blues to a consortium spearheaded by Justin Rees, “did not pass” the final due diligence stage because it puts "public money at risk".

Labour leader Daniel Cowan issued the devastating update and confirmed an alternative plan was made to Citizen Housing, with a decision is expected by Friday.

Your Echo penned an open letter yesterday urging Shrimpers chairman Ron Martin to back the revised plan to save the club.

After asking fans, campaigners, parliamentary candidates and business owners to pledge their support and help push a deal through, 122 supporters have backed our letter to Mr Martin and shared their own pleas for him to agree to the plan.

Shrimper Simon Smale commented: “This club means so much to Southend, its citizens and those who have been and gone from the area. It is Southend’s past and present. Don’t be the reason that it won’t be its future, too.”

Fellow fan Lee Irwin added: “The memories made watching our local team through thick and thin with my late father will stay with me forever. It built us a bond that is priceless and I want these memories to live on forever. Maybe I can even relive and make new memories with my own son. Don’t destroy this club, do the right thing Ron, please.”

Earlier this month, Mr Cowan said he was looking to revise plans and put a financially viable proposal forward that “does not put public money at undue risk”.

He has also called on restraint from fans to “minimise distractions”.

Blues fan David Creed said: “I'm a Southend fan from New Zealand, my family have been supporting Southend for decades. My grandfather would've been absolutely devastated if Southend cease to exist.  As the Echo says, don't be that man that ends our club.”

Pleading with Mr Martin, Amanda Thorn said: “Please do the right thing and accept the revised plan. Southend United football club deserves to continue as it has for generations. It is part of our community and means so much to every supporter.”

The Blues are due in the High Court on June 26 to face a potential winding-up petition from Stewarts Law and an ex-club sponsor believed to total about £500,000.