Starts on Friday. But the football is underway and we've had the first riot already

Morocco beat Argentina 2-1 in a game that lasted four hours

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/we-are-albion...d-sale-now

Thoughts? I'm actually coming around to it but it's a bit Watford?

A consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees has finally completed a takeover of Southend United.

Contracts between the group and former owner Ron Martin were exchanged in December, nine months after he put the National League club up for sale.

The sale had been drawn out over months because of issues surrounding housing development plans relating to Fossetts Farm, a site where Martin had previously hoped to relocate the Shrimpers.

The consortium, COSU (Custodians of Southend United), had previously confirmed the club will remain at Roots Hall, their home since 1955.

"The consortium is delighted to announce that the purchase of Southend United Football Club has been successfully completed," said a statement, external.

"The process, which began in July 2023, was complex and as a result has taken longer than any of us anticipated.

"Completing a complicated deal such as this requires hard work and compromise on all sides.

"With that in mind, we would like to extend our thanks to Ron and Jack Martin, who have acted with integrity and professionalism throughout our dealings, aiming to find solutions as quickly as possible to the many complex and challenging changes that arose along the way."

The statement added: "We now turn our attention to the start of the new season and hope that the Southend community will unite behind Kevin Maher and the Blues squad.

"There remains much work to be done but with the support of the city, we are confident of a bright future for the Shrimpers."

Consortium includes lifelong fans
Southend United consortium
IMAGE SOURCE,SOUTHEND UNITED FC
Image caption,
The consortium led by Justin Rees (second from right) have bought Southend from former owner Ron Martin

Rees is expected to be the new chairman, though much of the day-to-day running of the club will continue to be done by chief executive Tom Lawrence.

He has been in post since May 2021 and said at the start of the 2023 that financial problems had left the club with an annual funding gap of about £2m.

The other consortium members are John Watson, Gary Lockett, Tom Arnold, David Kreyling, Paul Redbourn, Ian Redbourn, George Taylor - the son of former Southend East MP Sir Teddy Taylor - Jason Brown and Lawrence.

"The news we’ve all been waiting for. Proud to have played a small part in this," Southend-On-Sea Council leader Daniel Cowan said on X,, external formerly Twitter.

The takeover was also welcomed by the Shrimpers Trust supporters' group, who posted: "Enjoy your first stress free night in many, many years, Shrimpers."

Southend were formed in May 1906 and in their 118-year history have been as high as the second tier of English football in the 1990s and again in 2006-07, a season which also saw them reach the League Cup quarter-finals.

They missed out on a play-off place last season because of a 10-point penalty imposed by the National League because of their financial issues.

COSU have effectively running the club since the contracts were exchanged and Rees told BBC Essex in May that they had already spent £3.5m.

The following month, however, they were ordered to provide a £1m bond by the league who were concerned about Southend's "ability to fulfil its financial obligations" for the coming season.

But the latest in a series of winding-up petitions the club has faced was dismissed on 26 June leading to the lifting of a second transfer embargo, external imposed in May, just five months after the previous one ended, having been in place for over a year.

The Fossetts Farm development is now subject to a second due diligence exercise by Southend-On-Sea Council.

Interesting, easy to read article here:

https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2...d.html?m=1

Woking's owner has said the National League club will go into administration if a buyer cannot be found in the next few weeks - and he is willing to sell for £1.

A £600,000 loan from owner Drew Volpe's parents has given the Cards a lifeline to begin the new season next month.

Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey, Volpe revealed he had invested "over £3.425m" in the club since taking over in 2021.

When asked if the club would now be in administration without the loan from his parents, Volpe said: "Yep, 100%".

"The bottom line is I'm not made of money, so I couldn't keep on doing this for a fourth year straight," he added.

"Between tax stuff, insurance, some other liabilities, the numbers add up real fast – to a scary, scary degree.

"Once it's in your veins it's hard to stop, you want to keep chasing that promotion - but I realise now I can't keep doing it. I don't want to be eating out of a dumpster outside of my apartment."


The Cards are due to begin the new season away at Altrincham on Saturday, 10 August.

Volpe said the loan from his parents would ensure the team could start the league season, when money would begin coming in from gate sales on matchdays.

But Volpe said he was now more confident a deal could be reached for new owners to rescue the club after making "great progress" with takeover talks.

"Obviously we're still bringing on new investment, which should be happening in the next couple of weeks, but at this moment we are fine," he added.

"It's absolutely been sleepless nights, a lot of worry, but for now we're safe.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't dire straits until [we got] the money into the account.

"The reality of it, is that the club's going to be sold for probably £1 - based on the liabilities that we have, the money I sent over will be able to pay off almost all of that and then we'll have games and money will be coming in."

'A systematic failure from all angles'
Volpe and his business partner John Katz took over the club in 2021.

A 15th-place finish in the National League in 2021-22 was followed by a promotion push that ended in fourth place behind Wrexham, Notts County and Chesterfield in 2022-23, with Woking beaten by Bromley in the play-off eliminator.

He conceded that it had "probably not" been wise to spend "a lot" to compete with the likes of former National League sides Notts County and Wrexham, who had much higher budgets.

Last season, the team regressed to end the campaign 17th.

Woking announced in June that Katz had stepped down from his role as chief executive officer but would remain on the board of directors.

They said Katz, who previously managed the club's women's team, would also continue in his position as football secretary., external

Volpe says it is a "systematic failure from all angles" that has led to the club's perilous financial position and that entering administration would represent a "catastrophic failure" to himself and Katz.

"I think we had higher expectations than we should have had in terms of commercial revenue and also in terms of making a run in the FA Cup or FA Trophy - those are very important to covering your projective losses," he said.

"And we didn't have that this past year, we had basically nothing.

"It's hard to say we're not guilty of that [overspending] given where we are."

BBC Radio Surrey approached Katz but he did not wish to comment.

Former Swansea City coach Nelson Jardim will lead Newport County into the new League Two season.

Portuguese-born Jardim has been confirmed as the club's head coach, having initially joined the Exiles as a “lead coach” earlier this month.

When Jardim originally joined the coaching staff, Newport said they would "continue its search for a new head coach" following the departure of former boss Graham Coughlan in June.

But Newport chairman Huw Jenkins has now told the club website: “One or two matters needed to be discussed and agreed during the last few weeks before this announcement could be confirmed.

“Leaving his young family in Madeira (Portugal) to move to Newport and take up this challenge was a big decision for him to make. The club also needed written confirmation of Nelson’s settled status in the UK, which we have now received.”

Jardim has already taken charge of pre-season preparations at the League Two club and a 4-1 victory in the traditonal opening friendly at local side Undy.

“Nelson has made a big impact at Newport County over recent weeks, not only with the staff and players, but he has also been instrumental in helping to bring a strong, positive feel around the club," added Jenkins.

“Hopefully today’s update will allow everyone connected to the club from the staff, players and supporters to fully focus on the exciting new season ahead.’’


Former Swansea chairman Jenkins knows Jardim well from his time in west Wales. Jardim initially joined the Swans as a coach in 2009 under manager Paulo Sousa, before following the former Champions League winner to Leicester City a year later.

Jardim was assistant manager at LigaPro side Nacional before heading back to Swansea in 2017 as a lead Academy coach. He later served as a first-team coach under Francesco Guidolin, Paul Clement and Carlos Carvahal.

Following his departure from the Swans in 2020, Jardim was part of Aitor Karanka's coaching set-up at Birmingham City and then returned home to Portugal to manage Maritimo B.

At Newport, Jardim’s backroom team includes assistant head coach Dafydd Williams, goalkeeping coach Jim Hollman, head of performance Scott Wickens (strength and conditioning) and head analyst Connor McGaharan. Club legends David Pipe and Mark O’Brien will also remain part of the first team set-up.

Newport have also appointed Triston Jenkins as a new head physiotherapist. He will oversee the club’s medical department following extensive experience in the NHS, Swansea City Academy, Haverfordwest County and the Welsh Rugby Union.

Newport continue their pre-season build-up with a Tuesday night friendly at Pontypridd United.

At the club and on here

Change won't happen immediately, probably not even soon (ie before Scottish Elections in 2026).

There will be a definite change the in attitude of the Government, but will it make any positive difference to the general public?

Burnley have appointed former England midfielder Scott Parker as their new head coach on a three-year deal.

Parker, 43, succeeds Belgian Vincent Kompany who joined Bayern Munich despite relegation from the Premier League last season.

Parker has been out of work since March 2023, having been sacked by Belgian side Club Bruges after winning only two of his 12 games in charge.

After leading Fulham and Bournemouth from the Championship into the Premier League, Parker will be aiming to do the same with the Clarets.

“I’m really pleased to be here," Parker said.

"I have been speaking with Burnley for some time now which has been a positive thing as I’ve now got a real feel for the people around the club.

“To be around the training ground now you start to get that feeling again and I can’t wait to get on the training field and start work.

“For us to be successful this year is the most important thing. We have to win and build a team the fans and club can be proud of. This team can represent every single one of them in that aspect and that’s the aim.”

Parker held a second round of talks with Burnley officials this week and emerged as the preferred candidate.

The Lancashire club also held talks with former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, as well as ex-England midfielder Frank Lampard.

“His vision for the future aligns with our goals and ambitions of returning to the Premier League as soon as possible," Burnley chairman Alan Pace added.

“His track record of success along with a commitment to developing young talent makes him an ideal fit.”

“We are confident he can lead us to new heights and continue to build on the solid foundations laid at Turf Moor.”

Burnley begin their 2024-25 Championship campaign with a visit to Luton on Monday, 12 August.