We are led to believe by the media that many UK councils are already in bankruptcy or on the point of doing so.

Southend Council now seems to be prepared if necessary to join this unhappy group, all in their aim to rescue a football club, important to many of its ratepayers but insignificant to just as many others, if not more.

Sorry, Southend supporters, but I love the club and in fact sometime ago spent 28 years working for the club as a turnstile operator on Fairfax Drive, South Bank and North Bank through some very bad and difficult financial times for the club and I promise you I really do love and support the club.

But I now find it ludicrous that the council appears to be agreeing to pay the rents to Thames Plaza for any of its new homes that cannot be rented out by the council without knowing what sum this may incur.

Nice deal for Ron Martin and his family, they must be rubbing their hands in glee, having ensured making the large sums they always intended..

To all intents Southend Council has thrown in the towel having been check mated, snookered and finally KOd, game set and match.

Supposedly rent for the new properties is nearly agreed, but still remains open for Thames Plaza to have the final say as to what will be a fair rent, want to increase profits.

Just increase the rent, no worries - Southend Council ratepayers will foot the bill. And then to have the audacity to state that the only change was that a new stadium will not be built - was this not the main factor, and where it all started?

Enjoy your victory, Ron - you won, your future at least is more than secure.

T Butler

Southend