Accused football chairman will have to wait years for trial

The chairman of Southend United FC charged with failing to pay more than £5m in tax following two land deals may have to wait until 2023 to stand trial, a court heard. Ronald Martin, 68, and former chief executive Geoffrey King, 75, are accused of failing to pay £4,485,000 in Value Added Tax over the sale of land in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The pair are also accused of failing to pay £921,260 of VAT in relation to the sale of land…