Southend United bosses have launched a bitter war of war words with former chairman John Main.

Mr Main was ousted after a boardroom power struggle last year, but re-entered the debate over the future of the club by posting comments about the current owners on a Yahoo internet mailing list.

Mr Main criticised South Eastern Leisure - a joint venture between Delancey and Billericay-based Martin Dawn - and questioned its planning application for a new all-seater stadium at Fossetts Farm.

In a message to Blues supporters he suggested the plan was "not financially viable."

He stressed: "There will be no stadium at Fossetts Farm and the future of the football club remains at Roots Hall."

In an angry reply to the former Blues man Colin Wagman, deputy chairman at Delancey, launched an attack on Mr Main over the internet website. Mr Wagman insisted progress had been made at the club, but "it was not out of the woods yet."

John Main said he did not have a "personal vendetta" against Colin Wagman and added that he would comment further at a later stage.

The conflict has raged on despite news in June that Delancey would not be part of the long term future of the club.

South Eastern Leisure has also admitted it is looking to sell its 76 per cent stake in the troubled club once plans for a new ground are given the go-ahead.

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