Source: FOOTYMAD
Tara Brady: 'It's disappointing that people are staying away from Roots Hall because of the owner'
Southend United's Chief Executive Tara Brady has been impressed with the passion of the Shrimpers support and given reasons why home attendences are down a massive 36%! The Shrimpers chief executive Tara Brady has become a fan of the fans, surviving an afternoon in the presence of the Blue Voice in the 2-0 away win at Barnet! It's all about the passion.Brady told www.echo-news.co.uk: "I've been very impressed with the fans. I've met most of the key fans forums and agreed to meet up with them on a monthly basis collectively. But my most enjoyable time here so far was going in the away end at Barnet. It's amazing how quickly you get to know people and I was with the fans singing away. It was a great win and it made me realise Southend definitely does have a real hardcore group of fans." Fair enough, and there were more nods in the direction of the travelling Blues faithful.Brady continued: "We took 400 fans to Rotherham and the same to Cheltenham on a cold Tuesday night when we hadn't been winning which is so impressive. I remember going to Sunderland with Portsmouth on a Sunday afternoon in the Premiership and Portsmouth only took 300 or 400 so the Southend fans have exceeded my expectations already. I can only imagine what they would be like when we get success." Not sure it was that many at the Millers but his heart is in the right place, for now, at the end of the day, playing up the supporters is an old trick, his actions over the coming tough months for the club will prove how much is just spin and how much he will actually brings to the club.Is he just a mouthpiece for Uncle Ron?Anyway, credit when it's due; however, how about the reasons for the huge drop in Roots Hall attendences this season which have dropped from 7,718 to 4,993 after the Shrews game, over a third at 36%! Tara has the answers.Brady explained: "There are a number of factors. There's the negativity of the past few seasons and it's disappointing that people are staying away because of the owner. There's the fact we got relegated and also that there's a recession on which I think has hit Southend more than most. It's been a very cold winter too but the crowd last Saturday against Shrewsbury was the biggest for a few months and I hope it continues to go up now." It might be disappointing but until we see something of substance from Shrimpers supremo Ron Martin many will continue to miss the magic of watching Southend United live, and many wouldn't blame them however well the side is or not doing.
