Things go from bad to worse at Southend United after they were beaten 6-1 by Colchester in the EFL Trophy last night.
Fresh from being knocked out of the FA Cup by Boreham Wood, the Shrimpers lacked urgency and fight as they were mauled by their local rivals. An inexperienced team were brushed aside by a weakened Colchester outfit, which has caused fury amongst fans.
Some Blues fans even locked the gates of Roots Hall after the match so that the returning players could not get in. It is reported that eggs were even thrown at the coach as the ailing side look destined to slip out of the Football League, even at this early stage.
It isn’t just performances that have brought about the anger – the situation at the club is complicated and shrouded in distrust and untruths. Striker Simeon Akinola finally earned his Football League move a couple of years after seeing a switch to Lincoln City collapse, but he hasn’t appeared as yet. Press conferences seemed to indicate that he was injured, which is why he couldn’t play, but a report yesterday confirmed it is because the club are under embargo and cannot register him.
When a club enters embargo, the playing squad size is reduced, meaning he is unavailable. That is likely to be the case until a bailout is agreed with the Premier League, something manager Mark Moseley believes will be soon, after he said: “Sim is also training hard and we’re looking forward to hopefully having him to choose from soon.”
Despite the manager’s hopes, news that Akinola can’t be registered has incurred the wrath of Southend supporters, who believe they are being lied to and treated badly.
They have a point too.
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Akinola can't be registered. Now what a surprise! Shame Molesley flat out lied to our face week after week which I'd disappointing
— ShrimpersTalk.co.uk 🦐⚽️ (@ShrimpersTalk) November 10, 2020
Don’t wish to blow own trumpet but I said when he “signed” we didn’t have his registration. And we’d have to wait to clear HMRC before he could play.
— Nick Hanshaw8 (@NHanshaw8) November 10, 2020
Does beg the question why register McCormack before akinola
— Dave wyatt (@Davewyatt19) November 10, 2020
Fully agree, the whole club feels it is acceptable to lie to it’s customers. No other business would be allowed to conduct itself in this manner. This club is a rotten to the core.
— Shorty (@darrenshort14) November 10, 2020
I suggested this some time ago…. what I can’t understand is why go out and get Sterling and register him if we could have just registered Akinola? This would suggest he had a genuine injury.
— Ian holmes (@Ianjholmes) November 10, 2020
The bad news just keeps on coming for blues fans. I envy fans of other teams who look on their club with pride and see a "Theatre of Dreams". Unfortunately for blues fans we have no hope and all we see is a "Hall of Nightmares". Oh the joys of being a Southend United fan.
— John French (@Johnfrench52Sky) November 10, 2020
We need to stop being lied to about these registrations and transfers out, Kelman refused to play but then weird being told it's because he's "not fit", Akinola not registered but we keep being told he's also not "fit", just a little more transparency when it's actually happening
— Jack Allen (@JB_Allen) November 9, 2020
But not being registered? It's just a p-take because we're being told all these things that just aren't true. Plus, how do we know he was actually injured, Chris was told Kelman was not fit when he was about to leave, hence why he didn't play, but it turns out he was refusing.
— Jack Allen (@JB_Allen) November 9, 2020
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