Former Southend United chairman Vic Jobson fought for his life for ten days in a New York hospital, his son revealed yesterday.

The man who devoted so much to the Blues finally lost his battle on Sunday and his body has now been flown home for burial.

Son Robert said his father suffered a severe heart attack while in America and was rushed to hospital where he was put on a life-support machine.

Robert said: "He never really fully recovered from the heart attack. Heart failure was the eventual cause of death."

Vic, 62, who was chairman of the club for 15 years, was known to have had a history of heart problems over the years and he had a well-publicised quadruple heart bypass operation in 1995.

He had spent a lot of money trying to find a solution to his failing health, and Robert explained that his father was in America in an attempt to cure his long-term heart condition.

He said: "There wasn't an awful lot anyone in Britain or America could do for him.

"His kidneys were in a bad way. All of his health problems centred around his heart.

"Unfortunately, he was never a candidate for a heart transplant.

"He was not in a good enough condition for it. His other organs were failing on him. He was just worn out."

Robert accepted his father was a controversial character in Southend who did not always please supporters, managers or players with his style.

He said: "He was not always liked, but he was the most visionary chairman of Southend United Football Club there has ever been.

"He got them into the old second division and if things had gone on the way he wanted he would have taken them much further.

"He had his detractors, but then anyone who has vision, passion and energy will always have their detractors.

"What he did do speaks volumes.

"Even people who did not like him would hand on heart say he did an enormous amount for Southend United."

The date of the funeral has yet to be set, but Robert said there will be two services - a church service open to anyone who wishes to pay their respects, followed by a strictly private family service at a crematorium.

Robert said his father was known publicly as the Blues' chairman, but he was also a quiet, family man.

He added: "He was a great husband to my mother, Jean, a great dad to all his children, and we will miss him."

Flags at Roots Hall were lowered to half mast in respect after the news of Mr Jobson's death was revealed.

A spokesman for Southend United said the club offered its sincere condolences to the family and the thoughts of all who worked at the club were with them.

A club in mourning - Blues' flag flies at half mast at its Roots Hall ground

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

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