As for some of the wilder remarks on the boards about me,i will give you one or two facts,firstly,my physical and mental condition are A1,and having worked closely recently with coaches who train and do conditioning work with olympic athletes,i pay rather more attention to what there diagnosis of my physical state,than with respect,the Spanish shrimper et al….

The tests i have done(prior to Tenerife,where i have trained for 3 weeks,on physical fitness,plyometric training,trimming down weight to NFFC playing weight,and building power) all were scientific tests used on athletes in various sports to ascertain fitness levels,and hence goals.My tests pre-Tenerife suggested that my fitness at that point were still that of an elite athlete,and with up to 8 weeks conditioning work,that at age 35,my power,strength,fitness and agility would be comparable to ANYTIME in my career previous.

More, including a picture, elsewhere.

JCR – the “agreement” has been published in the Rotherham Advertiser. I agree that the S Yorks coverage has been heavily in favour of our case and I had assumed that there was some wriggle room involved. However, I have to say that I can understand why our board is upset.

The document in question is a “record of agreement” (as it is headed) sent by your chairman to ours. I think it makes interesting reading for all concerned.

First up, it confirms that personal terms had been agreed and states “for the sake of good order and completeness i am copying this note to Richard Cody and can confirm that personal terms with Jamal have been agreed”. The meat of it is this section:

“this is our best and final offer and the £75000 would be paid this financial year as follows

£15000 upon signing

£20000 payable 1 december 2005
£20000 payable 1 feb 2006
£20000 payable 1 May 2006

Furthmore we would pay an additional £25000 bringing the total commitment to £100000 in accordance with the following schedule.

£10000 for twenty starting appearances
£10000 for thirty starting appearances
£5000 for 40 starting appearances ”

I do believe that Jamal would make thirty starting appearances and in that regard I am prepared to underwrite the £75000″. The document is signed by Ronald Martin, chairman of Southend United FC.

RUFC accepted this offer in writing.

Only the £15,000 has been paid. Our chairman reports that Mr Martin has told him – in terms – that we will have to accept a lower fee because of our financial difficulties and that he is therefore not paying. I cannot say if this is true or not.

At the very least, £40,000 should be coming our way (money which is VITAL to our club). We also say that the wages that we have paid to JCR in the period in which he cannot play for either side should be re-imbursed to us. Not sure about the legality of that, but I can see the moral point. The £75,000 turns on the meaning of “underwriting”, and I’d be less confident on that.

How many games has he played, btw? 6 or so?

One thing I do believe is that your chairman has behaved poorly. Leaving aside what’s enforceable and what’s not, that signed document is pretty clear in its intention. We, like you, are a small club and I’m surprised that your chairman is apparently using our lack of financial clout as a means of getting “one over” on us. I’m sad that there wasn’t more solidarity on this: the Premiership will screw all of us plenty, without doing one another over.

We’ve raised £100,000 so far to save our club. In that context, you can see how important the £40,000 and, of course, the £125K would be.

There is some discussion about whether this document is valid. If it is, I honestly believe that my club has fewer than one leg on which to stand. However, it would appear that this letter was written based on JCR joining the club in August. He didn’t join us until the end of September. Indeed, the fax makes it plain that Ron Martin, Southend United’s chairman, was intending any deal to be completed in time for the end of the August transfer window.

A talented teenage prodigy at the age of 18, he is close to breaking into the West Ham first team.

But his professional dream turns sour – he leaves West Ham due to injury problems and is at a loss as to what to do next with his life.

Cole contemplates giving up football altogether – in fact he does just that for a year, and sits at home, where he puts on nearly a stone in weight.

But in the summer of 2004 Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole’s father – Mitchell’s girlfriend is Joe Cole’s sister Charlie – suggests he trains with Grays Athletic, then in the Conference South.

The young left winger is quickly offered a contract by Grays and helps the Essex club win promotion to the Conference.

Cole’s performances win him rave reviews and in the summer of 2005 League One club Southend come in for the left winger, just as they did with another former Grays player, prolific striker Freddy Eastwood.”

(Via .)

‘My friends tell me which sides the papers are linking me with but to be honest, I don’t take any notice of it,’ Eastwood told the club’s website.

‘I’m happy at Southend and I just want to do my best for the club.’”

* Born: 27th July 1966, Wickford.
* Height: 5’11″
* Weight: 12 stone
* Previous clubs: Witham Town, Southend United (1989-1997), Canvey Island FC

An attacking midfielder who always gave 100%, Steve Tilson was brought to Southend from Witham in 1989 by then manager David Webb. In less than 250 appearances Steve scored 30 goals for the Blues and has also served on loan at Brentford. Shortly after being dropped by Southend he said that he had never wanted to play for anyone else.

He has been training with the club, however he now has a four year contract with, and is captain of, Ryman Premier Division Canvey and is definitely staying there. Fans have described him as a good solid player and someone who could hold and run with the ball and was even known to score the odd goal or two.

Tilson has been made director of the new Centre of Excellence which was made possible by an English Sports Council grant of over £250 000.

This is a great opportunity for me and it’s great to be back at Southend— I just can’t wait to get started…
Southend’s youth policy has suffered in recent years, but thanks to the Sports Council grant this part of the club is being put right. The chairman, John Main, and Peter Trevivian know that a strong youth set-up is crucial to Southend’s future and I’m looking forward to playing my part in strengthening this area.
There’s so many talented youngsters right on our door step and it’s down to us to find them and bring them through to Southend’s first team.

Tilson will be responsible for overseeing and developing the raw skills of all the centre of excellence’s teams, aged from under-9 to 16, a task he has great enthusiasm for.

I love working with kids and coaching and I’m hoping that I will be able to help them become better players… When I joined Southend I came through the backdoor via non-league football and I want to try and help as many of these lads to make the grade as well, but by the more conventional route of an apprenticeship.

Tilson has stressed that his new Roots Hall rôle will not interfere with his duties on the playing field for Canvey for whom he scored 34 goals last season.