Supporters offer to take over Blackpool with £16m bid

It has been five years since Blackpool F.C. last played Premier League football, and since then, the club has been relegated to the third tier.

But before the club’s situation gets any worse, Blackpool fans want to step in and take control over their beloved team.

As reported byITV, Blackpool Supporters’ Trust has made a £16m bid to buy the club from owners Owen Oyston and his family.

BST has written an open ‘letter of intent’ to Oyston, who bought the club for £1 in 1987, in which he is asked to sell “and thereby prevent any further damage being done to Blackpool FC, its reputation and its future prospects”.

Fans have been at odds with Oyston, and his son Karl - the club chairman - for the last two seasons. This culminated during the final match of the Championship season against Huddersfield Town on 2nd May, when the game had to be abandoned in the 48th minute after hundreds fans invaded the pitch to protest against Blackpool’s management.

BST said in its letter: “The action you take in responding to this bid is just as important to the future of the Football Club as was your decision to buy the Club for £1 in 1987.

“The question now facing you and your family is whether you still care enough about the well-being and reputation of Blackpool FC to sell it (ie. your complete shareholding in Segesta) to the Trust for just over £16million.

“The club is now perceived to be in such a parlous state that our members have decided it is better to offer to buy our club back by giving you as many of the assets as possible than it is to continue with the Oystons in charge.

“The actions taken by Karl over the last four years have ensured that any good that you and your family may have done for the club has been entirely negated and rendered worthless.

“You have lost the goodwill and the confidence of the supporters and indeed the people of the Fylde Coast.”

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