New Southend United chairman John Main today promised Blues fans that the "club's future is in safe hands" as Martin Dawn completed its long, drawn-out takeover of the Third Division club.

The Billericay-based property developers are now Blues' majority shareholders, holding a 55 per cent stake in the club, bringing to an end former chairman Vic Jobson's near 15-year reign at Roots Hall.

Mr Main said: "The deal has been completed at long last and Mr Jobson has resigned from the board.

"The takeover seems to have gone on for ever, but now it is complete we can begin to push forward and get this club performing better on and off the field."

The 55-year-old, who was brought up in Forest Gate, east London, explained that Martin Daw had first realised that Southend United was up for grabs following the club's lack of funds.

"When we first got involved with the club as directors towards the end of last season we pumped money into Southend United as working capital based on flow projections handed to us by the club's management executive.

"These projections were inadequate and the money ran out, which was the first time Mr Jobson indicated that he was ready to sell up as he was unwilling to put any more money into the club.

"We then started negotiating a takeover with Mr Jobson and proceeded to purchase the majority shareholding of the club which has brought us to today's final result," the new Blues chief added.

Mr Main also promised to do everything in his power to "heal old wounds" and attract exiled fans back to Roots Hall.

"We have a hard core of about 3,500 fans at this club, but I know there are another 5,000 people out there who stay away from the club because they feel they haven't been appreciated in recent years.

"This is because this club hasn't been a 'real' football club in recent years and I want to win back the trust of these people by rebuilding Southend United on a strong community spirit which has been sadly lacking," he added.

Mr Main added that there will be money available for manager Alvin Martin to strengthen his squad and that he would definitely be bringing back the club's reserve side next year.

"One of the biggest mistakes this club ever made was scrapping its reserve side and we will be bringing it back next year - even if it means losing West Ham's reserves who are currently sharing our pitch," he said.

"We have a lot of work to do here, but if the board, manager, players and fans all pull together we can make Southend United a fun and successful place to be again."

Vic Jobson was expected to fly out to America today for medical treatment and was unavailable for comment.

Southend's former vice-chairman John Adams is staying on at Roots Hall in a management consultancy role.

New chairman - John Main wants to bring Southend United back to the community

Picture: Andy Palmer

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