Southend have seen their match stopped with balls and rats thrown onto the pitch a day after owner Ron Martin ‘drives his car into fans’.

Shrimpers supporters held another protest during Tuesday night’s match with Maidenhead United at Roots Hall, once again it was stopped with the Roots Hall faithful making their feelings known.

Shrimpers supporters have huge concerns for the future of the club and are desperate for chairman Ron Martin to move on.

Protests have been held outside Martin’s house and at games during the past few months.

And a spokesperson for the Southend Fan protest group has confirmed another protest will be taking place in the 25th minute of this evening’s game.

He said: “The various supporters groups have again combined forces to call for a protest in the 25th minute of tonight’s match.

“The 25th minute is said to represent 25 years of Ron Martin’s ownership of the club, which has seen its stadium transferred to his ownership, tens of millions of debt added to its balance sheet, relegations to its lowest point in a century and endless embargoes, court hearings and now points deductions.

“The fans are calling on all sides of the stadium to once again unite to highlight the club’s woes whilst a sale fails to be agreed and bring pressure on Ron Martin to leave immediately.”

Play is stopped as tennis balls and toy rats are thrown onto the pitch pic.twitter.com/cryNOLSbhy

— Chris Phillips (@CJPhillips1982) September 19, 2023

On Monday, Southend Fan Protest Group @fan_southend1 uploaded a video, saying: “As a consequence of blocking the sale of the club, Mr Rat’s driveway was blocked from the public footpath. He drove his car into peaceful fans regardless.

“He’s not only lost control of the club, he’s lost control of his mind. 🎾🐀 #MartinOut”

Last month, Southend United’s National League game against Eastleigh was briefly halted as fans threw tennis balls on the pitch in a protest against owner Ron Martin.

The incident occurred in the 10th minute of Friday’s match – referencing the 10-point penalty handed to the club two days ago over their tax debt.

The punishment followed a High Court ruling to grant the club a final 42-day deadline to avoid being wound up.

The Shrimpers have yet to clear debt of £275,000 owed to HM Revenue & Customs.

Southend started the game at home to Eastleigh at the bottom of the National League table on minus four points and fans chanted “We want Martin out” as the protest began.

The club have total debts of £2.5m and have been given until 4 October to secure the club’s future.

Owner and chairman Martin, who has been involved with Southend for more than 25 years, said the sale of the club to an unnamed Australian buyer should be finalised next month.

As a consequence of blocking the sale of the club, Mr Rat’s driveway was blocked from the public footpath. He drove his car into peaceful fans regardless.
He’s not only lost control of the club, he’s lost control of his mind. 🎾🐀#MartinOut pic.twitter.com/ZH0bmtInmq

— Southend Fan Protest Group (@fan_southend1) September 18, 2023

A fanbase unified with one aim @TheVanaramaNL @Anna_Firth @SouthendCityC @shrimperstrust #MartinOut #Rontherat #Getoutofourclub pic.twitter.com/MlAN0uZGIY

— Kay Fogg (@Kaylalula) September 19, 2023

This is what Twitter users had to say as the Southend match is stopped with tennis balls and toy rats thrown onto the pitch…

@RFCJoeJ: Well in 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@Brad89827391: #MartinOut

@ElmParkRoyals: Love to see this 👍🏻🎾

@adamReadingFC: quality, hoping for you 🙏

Southend United fans stopping the game by throwing rats onto the pitch in the 25th min in recognition of the 25 years we’ve had Ron Martin as owner – its time to go. We don’t deserve this.

Special mention to Harry Cardwell taking the rat out – shame it wasn’t Ron.#MartinOut 🐀 pic.twitter.com/2pkEbp6Vco

— London Shrimper (@londonshrimper) September 19, 2023