FORMER Southend United favourite Simon Cox has revealed he was part of a group who failed in a bid to buy the club from chairman Ron Martin earlier this season.

Spearheaded by Shrimpers supporter Carl Reader, the group made several attempts to make contact with the under-fire Martin.

And ex Blues striker Cox feels it is a shame Martin was not willing to engage in conversation.

“The guys ended up pulling out because they lost patience and there was no correspondence between them and Ron so no-one was making any headway in the negotiations which was a shame,” said Cox.

“Their vision was honestly brilliant.

“It would’ve generated a huge buzz around the city but the one stumbling block was Ron.”

The Shrimpers remain in an appalling financial position with some staff not having been paid since November and players still waiting for their January pay packets.

The future of the club also remains in doubt with Blues back in court at the start of March due to a winding up petition issued by HMRC.

And Cox was keen to do whatever he could to help Reader get the club out of trouble.

“I got shown a text message from a friend of mine who had seen online that there was a possible takeover at Southend by a guy called Carl Reader,” said Cox.

“I was sat there thinking it was an interesting opportunity and I had seen Carl was a Southend fan too.

“I did some digging in the next couple of days and saw he was a passionate person with great backing.

“I found his contact details on social media and reached out to him.

“I said if there’s anything I can help with me just let me know.

“We soon spoke on Zoom and struck up a good relationship.

“There was a lot going on in the background with his vision.

“But I was going to come in and help in any way possible in an advisory role.”

Cox, who netted 45 times in 172 outings for the Shrimpers, also spoke with Reader’s business partners.

And the 35-year-old was incredibly impressed by their plans.

“I met on Zoom with one of his business partners who outlined their plans,” said Cox.

“They wanted to bring the vision of a new stadium and training ground to its first class supporters.

“The supporters deserve an ownership to be proud of and one that delivers on their promises.

“They spoke passionately about the players and the management team, the stadium, their plans for utilising the city with an airport which could bring vital investment into the city and also the commercial buildings that would surround the brand new stadium.

“It was great but unfortunately after a lot of attempts to reach out to him or to strike a partnership it always fell on deaf ears.

“Ron’s not the type of person to sit down and let go of something he’s got hold of at the minute.”

But it was certainly not for the want of trying that the group could not get through to Martin.

“Numerous emails and phone calls were made to Ron and people on the board but he never went with it because he doesn’t want to see anyone take it from him,” said Cox.

“I think that’s a shame because it does need someone to take it from him.

“If the vision he has comes to fruition he wants it done by himself and unfortunately that’s not going to happen.”

But, despite the ongoing issues off the field, Blues sit sixth in the National League standings and Cox is full of praise for the players and boss Kevin Maher.

“I’d rather look at the positives and how good a job Kev (Maher), his staff and the players are doing,” said Cox.

“From experience and having to deal with Ron and not being paid I know it’s a tough ask.

“When you’re in a dressing room and you’ve got people who need the money to pay bills, school fees or anything else for their kids it can really tear a dressing room apart.

“But the fact the players are standing strong together and that Kev and his staff are doing really well in the circumstances they’ve been put in is a massive credit for them.

“It’s just a shame the football club is in the situation it is in again.

“It seriously, seriously needs to be looked at.

“Whether that’s somebody coming in and taking it from Ron I don’t know but from an ego point of view I don’t think he will allow that to happen which is a shame.

“The football club needs someone to be able to take it forward.”