The subject of the Fossetts Farm Stadium has not been on the agenda recently, but I have wondered whether Southend United really needs a new stadium.
In the team’s very short heyday while in the Championship, I can just about understand why this move could be necessary, but nowadays, Roots Hall rarely meets half its capacity.
The effects of such a mistake are evident at Colchester United’s new Community Stadium, which I believe is always sparsely populated.
Southend United, although they claim to be recovering, are in financial turmoil, and the millions of pounds needed to fund this unrequired project will give them yet another slippery slope to climb.
The stadium is not at all in the club’s interests, or the community’s for that matter, as many businesses are wasting valuable time and money relocating.
Not only will the new stadium have a terrible atmosphere due to the lack of people, particularly with one side missing, it will also be even more expensive to maintain with extra staff, particularly on the security front.
I would agree Roots Hall is run down, so why not spend a lot less by refurbishing it and maintain a stadium which covers all four sides of the pitch?
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