EXCLUSIVE
Southend United owner Ron Martin responds to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson claims and hits back at ‘nonsense’ theory from fans over delayed takeover
Ron Martin has hit out at 'absolute rubbish' claims that it's his fault a Southend United takeover hasn't gone through.
The Shrimpers were put up for sale in March this year and were linked with some Hollywood A-list involvement.
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Kimura Capital and members from Integral Sports Management (ISM) had expressed an interest in the club with suggestions that Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and his production company, Seven Bucks Productions, were keen to get involved in order to create a Wrexham-style documentary.
Iconic British actor, Ray Winstone, was also part of the arrangement, however Southend are yet to agree a deal to sell to Kimura or any other buyer, much to the anger of fans.
The 117-year-old club is now six weeks away from possible extinction after being granted one final extension to pay off a £275,000 tax debt.
A judge at an Insolvency and Companies Court hearing gave the Essex outfit until October 4 to settle its outstanding debts, or it will be wound up.
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Martin told he court this week he was confident a takeover will go through before then, but appeared more uncertain when asked in an exclusive interview with Jim White and Simon Jordan on talkSPORT.
Southend supporters have made their fury at Martin clear over recent years, with protests staged at games and even outside the 70-year-old's family home pleading with him to sell.
Responding to suggestions he is the reason the Blues have not been sold yet, Martin told talkSPORT: “Rubbish, absolute rubbish, it's just complete nonsense.
"We had to deal with a company called Kimura, but they straight up front said that they wanted to replicate the Wrexham model and make a documentary.
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"They had Ray Winston and also The Rock, they told us, in a frame to be heading it up.
"I'm not sure if The Rock was ever there, but Ray Winston appeared to be, but when he pulled out because he was conflicted because he's got an interest in a football agency, the deal fell apart.
"They didn't actually say that to us, they said they're still interested but if there's anybody else that you've been talking to, we don't think we're going to get there by the adjourned court date, this was July, then you should speak to them."
One of the accusations aimed at Martin is that he recently purchased land for his family to the tune of around £1million, while at the same time is refusing to pay Southend's outstanding debts to save them from financial ruin and ultimately extinction.
"It's got nothing to do with property," said the chief.
“Football fans do get perplexed and bring things into the equation that have no relevance. It was said yesterday to me by a person who I actually really trust, who emails me quite regularly and I've always been upfront and honest with him, he was suggesting that we've just spent £1m on buying a piece of land - we haven’t.
"That was July 2022. It was a year ago. It's got nothing to do with anything raising funds for the club now. I've spent £2.7million since February 27 in trying to save the club. My message is that I do want to save the club and I do want to sell it.
"I've got other things to do in my life, not least for my family, and I want to move on. I'm not just an owner of the football club, I’m an effin’ fan as well and I've been supporting this club, home and away, for 24 years, every single weekend.
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"We're happy to let people stay at Roots Hall, rent free for three years, buy the club for a pound.
"I think what's putting people off is the current debt and also much more importantly the cost of running the club going forward, but it's nothing to do with property.”
With two prospective buyers, one being an Australian who is in 'more advanced' talks, Martin's ownership of the club could finally be coming to an end.
Asked if he's in the final days of his tenure, Martin said: “I hope so. I'd like to have sold it when I put it on the market in March.
"I really wanted the sale to go through before the season started so the new buyer could put his mark on players and budgets and things like that, but I'm still here.
"For some ridiculous reason some fans think I don't want to sell, which is utter nonsense.
"Of course we want to. It was me who set the deadline for 42 days, six weeks, to allow the sale to go through.
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"I don't know whether it'll be sorted out by then, but we'll continue to do all we can to make sure it is.
"I will have to find additional money if I was going to save the club, and I don't know whether I can do that. There's not a bottomless pit."