Southend United's major shareholder today moved to quash rumours regarding a possible Roots Hall exit for the Shrimpers' chief executive Peter Storrie.

An insider at the Third Division club claimed Storrie would be leaving the Seasiders at the end of this season, if not before, two years short of the contract the former West Ham supremo was reported to have been offered when he joined Blues last July.

However, Ron Martin, chairman of Southend's overlords, Billericay property developer Martin Dawn plc, denied any knowledge of such speculation, but did confirm that the former Hammers man was only tied to Roots Hall until the end of this campaign.

"Peter Storrie has a one-year deal and is contracted to Southend United until July of this year," confirmed Martin.

Storrie had been recently linked with a behind the scenes power struggle at Roots Hall and a challenge for the club's chairmanship, currently occupied by John Main, allegations which Southend's chief executive and major shareholder have both strongly rejected.

And Storrie, who made himself unpopular with Seasiders fans, following a £1 matchday ticket rise back in November, defended himself against these latest accusations, indicating that he intended to stay firmly put.

"I don't know where these rumours are generated from and I'm certainly not going anywhere," said Storrie, whose role at Roots Hall earns him a £120,000-a-year salary.

Southend chairman Main refused to comment on talk of his chief executive's imminent departure, further fuelling speculation of a divide between the two men charged with rekindling Blues' flagging fortunes.

Main described Storrie as the final piece of his "dream-team" when he arrived at Southend seven months ago, but the relationship between the two has looked strained at recent matches, with chairman and chief executive both seen to be sitting far apart in Roots Hall's directors' box.

Another member of the Shrimpers' personnel also confirmed that Storrie has failed to travel on the team coach to Southend's last two away fixtures with the chairman, playing and coaching staff, which would usually be normal practice.

Echosport also learned that two unexplained emergency board meetings have been held at Roots Hall in recent weeks.

This follows months of unrest and rumour-mongering of a deep split at the club, which first came to light when Main fled the Seasiders' 2-1 home defeat against Hull City back in November at half-time after a row with Martin in the directors' lounge.

Denying rumours - Ron Martin (left, in tie) and Peter Storrie (right, facing camera) have both quashed talk of the Southend United chief executive leaving the club at the end of the season

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.