Blues loanee Bilel Mohsni has hit out at his parent club Southend’s chairman Ron Martin for preventing his proposed move to West Ham from going through in the summer. The Shrimpers are understood to have turned down a fee of £150,000 from the Hammers after the French-Tunisian had impressed during a trial.

Speaking to the Southend Echo, Mohsni says Martin went back on an agreement, which was why he failed to return to Roots Hall for pre-season training: “It was a big frustration for me because when our games ended last year the chairman said if a big club came in for me he would sell me.

“He said he wouldn’t let me go to a club like Crawley, but if someone in a high division made a bid he would let me leave.

“But West Ham wanted to sign me and I had agreed everything with them but then the chairman asked for silly money and didn’t sell me like he said he would.”

A figure of £1 million was recently reported to be Southend’s asking price in the summer, although the Blues wouldn’t have to pay anything like that fee should they decide to recruit the 25-year-old, whose Shrimpers contract is up at the end of the season, on a permanent basis when his three-month loan is up in January.

Steve Kavanagh, the League Two club’s chief executive, says Southend were merely trying to protect their interest and cast doubt on their summer asking price, with Essex media sources suggesting a figure of £400,000 was nearer the mark: “Just because he wants to play in a higher league does not mean we should not be properly compensated, and by that I don’t mean the figures being quoted in the last few days!”

Despite the spat, he says he hopes Mohsni is successful in his time at Town: “We wish Bilel all the best on loan at Ipswich and hope he focuses on his football and demonstrates the talent he has. We have worked hard to get him to a club and he now needs to repay that faith.”

Photo: Action Images

MaySixth added 13:41 - Oct 17 Calm down Bilel, let your football do the talking.
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PortmanTerrorist added 13:46 - Oct 17 Well his charm offensive to his new Club is already in question. If he had problems with Southend imagine trying to cut a deal with Mr Clegg. Prediction: will never play 3 consecutive games for Town in same position and will not sign permanent contract, will be considered a failure by ITFC management and will go on to play at a higher level....successfully. Hard facts of past few years is that we do not foster player growth we hinder it....the biggest single damning fact about this proud Club for my money. If only we could just commit to our original values of bringing through talent if it means we do take a step or 2 back to move forward.

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daniel9624 added 14:12 - Oct 17 Didn't take him long lol
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pazelle added 14:13 - Oct 17 Great photo.
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Sindre94 added 14:17 - Oct 17 i believe in this bloke!
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AbujaBlue added 14:17 - Oct 17 I know things aren't exactly top notch at the moment, but these constant doombringer comments are enough to drive anyone mad. Lets just focus on Mohsni and try not to bring club problems into it. If he impresses then there is no reason why we can't sign him on a longer deal. Yes the guy obviously wants to play in the best league he can, but so does every other player, the only difference here is that he clearly speaks his mind about it. This story doesn't reflect brilliantly on him but we know he is a firebrand so it is to be expected. For now he is our firebrand so let's try to make the most of it and not try to sink the ship with the usual 'we're doooooooomed' comments that are spewed on here.

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cornishnick added 14:30 - Oct 17 Could become a cult hero. Anyway, it won't be boring
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irishtim added 14:43 - Oct 17 Lets hope he can do the business for us. Problem is if he does we wont be able to sign him. so the merrygoround will continue.
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Edmunds5 added 14:58 - Oct 17 Not going to judge him, if he was thrown in at Hull on Saturday he would either score two goals and be pure class, or he would get sent off after five minutes for a headbutt. his unpredictability will either be positive or negative and I'm intrigued to see which one. There will be no middle man.
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runningout added 15:04 - Oct 17 wish he hadnt had a go at his club.. if West Ham wanted him that much, he wouldnt still be at Southend ...
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righty added 16:03 - Oct 17 He will do the same to us when Jewell doesnt play him
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clint_eastwood added 16:17 - Oct 17 I love it!! Another Joey Barton!! Woohooo!!
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ChrisMakin2012 added 16:33 - Oct 17 What a thug! get rid
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whiskey added 17:02 - Oct 17 Jewell will play him; he isn't J. Barton, he is Bilel Mohsni; he is not a thug; he is not necessarily unpredictable; it may be boring; his "charm offensive..." righto; thank you for your prediction - when you are right, my colleagues and I will hold you in even higher esteem, if that's even possible :) and we will give you a promotion! We do in fact foster player growth and no, we do not hinder it; what exactly is a "proud club"? Unfortunately, I'm not sure what else you were trying to communicate in your post.

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BuckieBlue added 17:54 - Oct 17 His 'baggage' concerns me, hitting out at Southend just another example.
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Keaneish added 19:07 - Oct 17 So that's controlling your temper! Also, please never show me that picture again...
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levington added 20:01 - Oct 17 Another dud.
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sheepdags added 20:41 - Oct 17 Obviously a bit of a loose cannon but give him a chance. Though how he's going to get a chance ahead of the army of new loan players is open to question. Our biggest problem was in defence and frankly though we lost the game due to a couple of errors, we looked much better at the back against Cardiff with Higginbotham being the key addition. Stick with the same team and we could have climbed the table without the new batch of mercenaries.

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karls_dad added 00:41 - Oct 18 A loose cannon maybe? but i really believe this guy has talent, to be able to play in almost any position has to count for something, he,s tall fast, alledgly has a good strike rate in him, lets give the guy a chance, at the moment i think i would rather play him up front than Chops, i believe this guy can score goals for us, JET can,t hit the wide side of a barn at 5 paces, Chops nuff said at the mo, Scotland can,t last more than 45 mins before running out of steam. not many other options really

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ArnieMsBigToe added 08:56 - Oct 18 Reminds me of John McEnroe & marmite. You either loved them or hated them. John McEnroe was one helluva tennis player - a winner, and I have always loved marmite!! I like him!!
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bluemingood added 17:49 - Oct 18 He will never be ours. He will play well for us and then be off to the Prem. Enjoy while we can.
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marcus9 added 19:59 - Oct 18 in our position we should be glad of unpredictability enough doom he will be good for us and i would play him from start. had enough of chopras brand of c..p ian marshall was similar and able to play cb and cf moshni just may be spark we need at the moment whith no taylorat least he is hungry
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