Tributes have continued to pour in today to former Southend United chairman Vic Jobson, who died in America on Sunday.

The ex-Blues supremo handed over the reigns of power at the Roots Hall club to Billericay-based property developer Martin Dawn plc last November after 15 years in charge of the Shrimpers.

"It is a sad day for me personally," said Peterborough United manager Barry Fry , who was the Seasiders' manager between April and December 1993 before leaving to become boss at Birmingham City.

"Although I only knew Vic for a short part of my time at Southend, and although we had our differences I was grateful to him for the opportunities I had.

"It was sad we did not part in good circumstances but we did remain friends despite that time.

"People outside the football club do not realise how much he did for the club.

"He worked morning, afternoon and night to make Southend a successful club, and I am sure it will be. He is a man I will never forget."

"I will always appreciate Vic for giving me the Southend job when he did," said former Blues boss Peter Taylor , who went on to manage the England under-21 squad and is now at Second Division Gillingham.

"People close to me know that I have always had a bit of a soft spot for the chairman, even when things did not work out as either he or I would have wanted."

"People will love him or hate him, but he did come into Southend at the dodgiest time and keep the club going.

"He should be remembered for all the good things he has done," added Mr Taylor, who lives in Thorpe Bay and was given his first professional, full-time management post by Mr Jobson.

"A lot of the managers fell out with him from time to time

"But I found him good company and there were lots of things about him that I liked.

"He loved his football and wanted Southend to be successful," added the man who managed Southend between 1993 and 1995.

"It is well documented that Vic Jobson did not suffer fools gladly, but his heart was always in the club," said journalist Howard Southwood , who has covered the Blues for a quarter of a century.

"Whether you agreed or disagreed with what he did, he always did what was in the best interests of the club.

"There is no doubt that when he took over after the Anton Johnson era the club was heading for trouble.

"Vic managed to get money and really turned the club around."

The Echosport columnist crossed swords with Mr Jobson on many occasions and was banned from the club for a while.

However, when they last spoke on the phone shortly before Mr Jobson flew out to America for treatment the former chairman said he held Mr Southwood in high regard.

"He was very emotional," said Mr Southwood. "It was a strange situation and I did not quite know what to say.

"I said 'you are a fighter, Vic' and you will come through. He said he did not hold out a lot of hope.

"Vic always seemed invincible, to be honest. His death is a hell of a shock."

Soft spot - Peter Taylor liked Vic Jobson, even when things were not working out for the pair

Fans have their say

Southend United fans today insisted Vic Jobson's vital role in saving the Blues should never be forgotten - but admitted he was often unpopular on the terraces.

James Faulkingham , of Hockley, who edits the Southend fanzine Peer Pressure, said: " A lot of fans have sour grapes over what Vic did to the club many years ago, but we should show some respect for him.

"We should remember that he did save the club from liquidation and he got us up to the old Division Two - the equivalent of the current Division One.

"It's a shame that certain people think badly of him now that he is dead, because I think, at this time, we should be thanking him for all that he did."

Martin Bennett , of Coniston, Eastwood, said: "I've been speaking to some people at work and I know they don't have good views on Vic, but I personally am going to miss him.

"After the way he sorted out the mess at the club, I'm proud to be part of the Southend army that marched up the hill to the old Second Division with himin charge - and then marched back down it again with him."

Long-time Blues fan Martin added: "It's a particular shame that Vic has died now just when we seem set to move to a new stadium.

"Relations seem to have improved with the borough council over a possible move, whereas for much of the time in Vic's reign the council didn't seem to care about the football club."

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