Source: FOOTYMAD
Ron Martin: 'My responsibilities are with Southend United, I will not be making ex gratia payments'
The Imps of Lincoln City manager Steve Tilson is owed nothing says Shrimpers supremo Ron Martin defending the club's position, following claims from Lincoln's new boss. Martin: 'The motivation behind the timing of these claims are clear'We give up; let's face it the Echo's of Lincolnshire and Southend know when they are on to a good thing, and so the ball moves back to Southend United chairman Ron Martin, he who got the thanks of the Imps faithful by delivering former boss Steve Tilson to them on a plate.And who, according to Tilly, owes him some dosh after he was sent on gardening leave last summer and even after he joined Lincoln City, obviously according to the terms of the contract, a piece of paper we are unlikely to see but the lawyers if it goes to court, or the football league at least, will more than likely do so.Uncle Ron has already denied this on record but with Tilly's insistance on bringing it up a couple of days before last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Sincil Bank, here he is again. And it looks as if he's not paying up!Martin told www.echo-news.co.uk: "I do not wish and neither is it professional, to conduct the club's business through the press however, on occasions it is necessary in order to avoid our fans from being misinformed and/or mislead, whether or not that was intended. Steve Tilson joined Lincoln on Monday October 18 and has been paid every penny under his contract up until that point. If Steve had not accepted the Lincoln job we would have continued to pay him under the terms of his contract. But my responsibilities are with Southend United and I will not be making ex gratia payments." Many of the Shrimpers faithful were disappointed at the timing of Tilly's comments so close to what was already an emotional clash, but Ron was not surprised. Martin continued: "The motivation behind the timing of these claims are clear. However, I have spoken regularly to Paul Brush since he left and he and I have no grumbles. Indeed I texted Paul after the game on Saturday to congratulate him and Steve and acknowledging it was a tough game for us to lose, as they all are. But we all have to move on." I bloody hope so, and as 62% of S24 readers who voted in our recent poll on the subject felt the club's treatment of Tilly was 'embarrassing', Ron's on a sticky wicket here.However, if he's right, we haven't got any money as it is, without giving any to an unjust cause, whatever the 'legendary' status Steve Tilson holds at Roots Hall. Cue Tilly's reply!I'm going on holiday, this is all westfield's!
