We’ve spoken plenty about COSU. This time, we wanted to get to know one of the men behind it.

Shivaas Gulati joins The Custard Splat for an extended sit-down about his journey into football ownership and becoming part of the group rebuilding Southend United.

COSU completed its takeover of the club in June 2024. Five months later, in November, Shivaas invested and became part of the ownership group.

So why Southend United? How did the opportunity come about? What convinced him to invest in a football club and what has he learned since?

Following on from our ownership conversation at the Season Launch, this episode takes things in a much more personal direction as we get to know Shivaas the person, the businessman and the Southend United co-owner.

We discuss his background before football, his first conversations with Justin Rees, the decision to invest, his relationship with the supporters and his experience of life behind the scenes at Roots Hall.

We also look at where Southend United finds itself today, the balance between stability and ambition, and what Shivaas believes comes next for the club.

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Three games. Three wins. Nine points from nine.

Scott Wallace and Scott Barber sit down for the first proper match-review episode of the season, looking back at wins over Altrincham, Scunthorpe United and Solihull Moors.

Rather than simply running through the games, we dig into why Southend are winning... the early signs of Kieron Dyer’s identity, the players making an impact, the strength of the squad and the different ways this side has already shown it can get results.

We also ask the question nobody wants to get carried away with in August…

Should Southend United already be part of the promotion conversation?

Plus, we look ahead to tonight under the lights at Roots Hall as Kidderminster Harriers come to town

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Part Two of the Southend United Official Season Launch, hosted by The Custard Splat.

We’re joined by Kieron Dyer, Oliver Gage and Catherine Honey to bring the conversation right back to the football and look ahead to the season in front of us.

We talk about the summer, recruitment, building the squad, the work that’s gone on behind the scenes and the expectations heading into the new campaign.

With a new season underway, it’s about where Southend United are now, what this group can achieve and just how far they can go.

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Part One of the Southend United Official Season Launch, hosted by The Custard Splat.

We’re joined by COSU members Justin Rees, Shivaas Gulati and David Kreyling to talk about their first two years as custodians of the Club and, more importantly, what comes next.

The survival chapter is closed. Now it’s about what Southend United can become.

We talk ambition, managing expectations, the fine line between confidence and arrogance when you’re the biggest club in the league, and making sure the lessons of the past aren’t forgotten as the Club moves forward.

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The Big National League Prediction Show | 2026/27 Season Preview

The wait is finally over... the new National League season is here.

With not a ball kicked yet, Scott and OG sit down to make their predictions for the season ahead. Who's lifting the title? Who's making the play-offs? Who's heading for the drop? And, of course, where do we think Southend United will finish?

As always, there are a few bold shouts, a few disagreements, and probably a couple of predictions we'll end up regretting by Christmas.

Give it a listen and let us know where you think we've got it completely wrong.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.

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The football season is almost upon us once again and there's plenty for us to get stuck into.

Scott, Scotty & OG look at Southend United's pre-season campaign, discuss the performances that have caught the eye, the players who have impressed most, and whether the Shrimpers are ready for the new season.

We also debate who should wear the captain's armband, why the search for a proven striker remains the biggest priority, and the daunting task of replacing the 50 goals that walked out of the door this summer through player departures.

Plus, we give our thoughts on the current state of the Roots Hall pitch ahead of the opening game of the campaign and what needs to improve before the season gets underway.

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In this episode of The Custard Splat, we give our honest thoughts on the brand-new Erreà home and away shirts, take a look at the goalkeeper kits and training range, and rank our favourites from everything released so far.

We also discuss the club's latest summer business, with Rayan Oyebade, Vontae Daley-Campbell and Joe Duncan all joining the Shrimpers ahead of the new season.

Finally, we say goodbye to Slavi Spasov as he departs for Yeovil Town, reflecting on his time at Roots Hall and wishing him all the best for the future.

🏆 Vote for The Custard Splat at the Football Content Awards!

If you've enjoyed the podcast this season, we'd massively appreciate your support. We're going for Best in Non League, Best in Video & Best in Social Media.

Every vote makes a huge difference.

👉 Vote here: https://footballcontentawards.com/voting/

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This week on The Custard Splat, we're joined by one of the most recognisable Southend United voices on social media - AlexisLOS (cmon)

From building a huge following on TikTok to using his platform to support great causes through his running challenges, Alexis has become a familiar face to Blues fans both online and at Roots Hall.

We chat about his Southend United journey, how social media changed his life, the responsibility that comes with having an audience, and the charity work that continues to inspire thousands. We also look at his work alongside the club on recent campaigns and what the future holds.

It's a brilliant conversation that goes beyond football, giving you the chance to get to know the person behind the videos.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.

Don't forget to follow the show and leave us a rating if you're enjoying what we're building.

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After taking some time away towards the end of last season following the passing of his father, Scott Barber makes his long-awaited return to The Custard Splat ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

We catch up with Barber on everything he's missed, get his thoughts on Southend United's appointment of Kieron Dyer as Head Coach, and discuss the summer business so far, including the arrivals of Darren Oldaker and Anthony Hartigan, as well as Keenan Appiah-Forson's move to Oldham Athletic.

We also dive into the new Erreà kits, the reaction from supporters, and what the new partnership could mean for the club moving forward.

Finally, we're joined by Fabrizio Taddei, Head of Global Partnerships at Erreà, for a fascinating behind-the-scenes conversation about the Southend United deal, how long kit development really takes, the scale of the operation behind the scenes, and why Erreà believes supporters should trust the process.

A packed episode to kick off what promises to be a huge season for Southend United.

#BringBackTheSplat

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This week on The Custard Splat, we sit down with Southend United Director of Football Oliver Gage.

With a new era underway at Roots Hall, we go behind the scenes to understand what a Director of Football actually does, why Southend's football structure has changed and how key decisions are made at the club.

Oliver discusses his journey into football, the recruitment process, the appointment of Kieron Dyer as Head Coach and the long-term vision for Southend United both on and off the pitch.

If you've ever wondered how a modern football club operates behind the scenes, this is the episode for you.

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