Legendary English actor Ray Winstone is reportedly a name who could become a director with National League club Southend United, as they are currently in advanced talks over a potential takeover, as reported by The Athletic.
The troubled National League club were put up for sale in March following a winding-up order, shortly after they had just avoided liquidation, after paying off a tax bill of almost £2 million. Majority owner Ron Martin has been at the helm of the Essex-based club for 25 years, but a second winding-up order saw him place the club on the market. Martin has struggled to back the club financially on a number of occasions, with staff paid late numerous times, due to the money owed to HMRC, the club have also been under a transfer embargo since last September. Currently, due to the situation, the club have until July 12th to pay a total of £250,000 of money owed in tax bills. This second order saw Martin faced with the decision of paying that money or selling the club meaning someone else would cover that bill.
The club’s run of 101 years in the Football League came to an end in 2021, as they were relegated to the National League from League Two. This signalled a dismal few years in the club’s history marred by financial difficulties which almost saw the end of a club many fans loved. Nevertheless, despite the transfer embargo they had been placed under, their second season in the National League will surely reassure many fans as they finished in 8th place in the league and many will likely believe financial backing and some new signings could see them rise back to the Football League.
This situation has seen a group of local businessmen step in to try to save the club. It was confirmed that chairman Ron Martin held talks with an investment group known as Kimura Capital, consisting of Simon Jackson and Kristofer Tremaine to save the club. Integral Sports Management, who have links to Southend through tennis player Ryan Peniston, are also believed to be part of the bid, the link was formed when Tremaine joined the board of ISM last year. It is not known fully if Winstone will be part of the bid, but it is a strong possibility, due to him being the co-founder of ISM back in February 2022, alongside Gary Petitt.
The group are keen to purchase the club, as well as the new stadium and are also known to be keen to save the academy for the club as they lodge a bid to save the troubled club. Alongside them, they have the help of another big name within the footballing world, this comes in the form of veteran financier Laurie Pinto who is famous for helping the Glazers broker their deal to purchase Premier League giants Manchester United.
Writers View
Ray Winstone is a huge name within the cinematic world and with the position the club find themselves in financially, as well as the desire to make a profit and keep the club running following the purchase, having his name attached to Southend can only provide the bonuses which they are after as they look to restore the club to its former glory. With a solid season behind them, the group can look to build off that and some signings could certainly see them challenging for a spot back in the Football League once again.
