To say that Owen Oyston’s reign at the helm of Blackpool Football Club has been a rollercoaster journey would be a grand understatement.
It’s a miracle the famous Blackpool Pleasure Beach, just over a mile away from Bloomfield Road, haven’t dedicated a ride to the Seasiders. It would certainly be fitting.
In his 31-year tenure as owner, Oyston has overseen five promotions, reaching the heights of the Premier League in 2010, and equally five relegations, but it has been off-field issues that have soured the relationship between Tangerine fans and Oyston.
From making their voice heard amongst the terraces for years, many supporters are talking with their feet by not stepping foot in Bloomfield Road, a ground synonymous with their Saturday, until change has come at the very top.
With the overwhelming majority of fans now boycotting Blackpool games, turning their back on the club that they cherish so dearly, the relationship between owner and fan has never been more broken.
Where the club goes from here, with ongoing court proceedings between Oyston and Valeri Belekon still yet to be resolved, is anybody’s guess.
Takeover
Owen Oyston had considerable success in the 60s, 70s and 80s with an estate agency business, Oyston’s Estate Agents, a company which he sold to Royal Insurance in 1987 for an estimated £37 million, just weeks before the stock markets crash.
During that year, Blackpool Football Club were in financial trouble, and the future of the club in serious doubt. Councilors rejected proposals for the club’s stadium to be sold for a supermarket site in a £35 million redevelopment scheme, and after a board meeting the club was immediately put up for sale.
Oyston bought the struggling club for £1, becoming the club’s chairman on 31st May 1988. Oyston then embarked upon investments within the media, becoming chairman of Red Rose Group, a company with radio companies in Lancashire, Leeds, Manchester and Cardiff.
Ten years later, in 1996, Owen Oyston was convicted of rape and indecent assault following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Oyston denied having any intercourse with the girl, who was aged between 16 and 17 in the indictment period (from 4 October 1991, to 31 December 1992).
After his conviction, Oyston continued to insist on his innocence, but having lost a subsequent appeal at the Court of Appeal in London, the appeal judge upheld the conviction and dismissed his appeal against the six-year sentence. Oyston was released on parole in 1999 having served three years and six months in prison.
During his time behind bars, his wife, Vicki Oyston, became chairwoman to take over the running of Blackpool Football Club. In 1999, Owen and Vicki’s son, Karl, replaced her as club chairman, becoming the third member of the Oyston family to occupy the role.
Karl Oyston
As chairman of Blackpool from 1999 to 2018, much of fans’ anger was diverted to Karl Oyston as the man who oversaw the day-to-day running of the club.
In 2012, Karl Oyston and two of his companies were fined more than £40,000 for illegally dumping waste from the building of the club’s Jimmy Armfield Stand. Hundreds of tonnes of rubble, including concrete, wood and plastic, were found at Whyndyke Farm. Oyston said he believed only soil was dumped.
The tipping point for supporters arguably came when both Owen and Karl Oyston began suing fans who criticised their ownership on internet forums. A judge ruled that Blackpool fan David Ragozzino posted defamatory comments against the Oyston’s on fan website Another View From the Tower.
Karl and Owen each won £20,000 in damages after Judge Stephen Davies ruled the claims were of a ‘defamatory nature’. Karl Oyston brought proceedings against Blackpool fan Stephen Reed over material posted on a website called Back Henry Street, a popular fan website, winning £30,000 in libel damages.
In April 2017, 67-year-old Frank Knight agreed to pay the club £20,000 after comments made on Facebook, while lawyer Tim Fielding was also sued for defamation by the Oystons. He paid £10,000 to settle the action and £10,000 in legal costs.
Christine Seddon is chairwoman of the Blackpool Supporters’ Trust, an independent supporters trust formed in 2013. She describes the actions of the Oystons as ‘shocking’ and says that there is a ‘complete lack of trust’ for the fans.
“We started as an independent supporters’ trust group back in 2013 and the members decided to make us into a democratic legally appointed supporters trust,” she said.
'It is not just one issue, there are a lot of issues that have built up over a period of time'
“The reason for that was because we were so dismayed at the way the club was been run and it was felt that an independent voice was needed – the fans were not being heard.
“At that point the only supporters’ group that existed was affiliated to club, so we started this independent one. We’ve been concerned for a very long time, most Blackpool fans have been protesting against they Oystons almost since they took over, so it isn’t just a recent thing, it’s something that has gone on for over 30 years.
“It is not just one issue, there are a lot of issues that have built up over a period of time. Things like suing your own fans – there were a number of legal actions that were threatened. They will always try to say that some fans crossed the line themselves and I believe that yes some fans did go too far, but the majority of those legal actions were against people who either said what the judge had said in court, that he was asset stripping the club, or had acted out of frustration based on the things that it has been proven the Oystons had done. It was an absolutely shocking thing to do. It's a complete lack of trust.”
Blackpool fans have always protested against the Oystons’ ownership of the club, that is certainly nothing new. But since the fall from Premier League, and the off-field troubles that aligned with that plummet, fans stepped up their anger towards the Oystons.
In response, Karl antagonised fans when their protests became louder. The number plate on Karl Oyston’s car parked outside the training ground branded a registration plate ‘OY51 OUT’, to the anger and astonishment of many fans.
Oyston has mocked paying customers, posing in front of an ‘Blackpool FC Oyston's Cash Cow’ banner outside the ground, and when Blackpool played Burnley live on Sky Sports in 2014, the match was halted after supporters bombarded the pitch with tennis balls. After the game Oyston’s son George and his friends were pictured holding up tennis rackets.
In March 2015, the FA charged Karl Oyston with misconduct following a text message exchange with a supporter in which he called the fan a ‘massive retard’.
After Blackpool fan Stephen Smith accused Oyston of being clueless, he replied: “Are you sure we’ve met? I would have remembered such a massive retard.” Another message said: “Enjoy the rest of your special needs day out.”
In the December prior to the charges, in a statement on the club’s website, Oyston said: “I would like to unreservedly apologise for any offence or distress caused by my text responses reported in the media recently. I regret stooping to the level of those threatening and abusing my family. My mobile number was placed on a social media website recently and it led to a barrage of abuse about my mother, father, wife, children and myself. In hindsight the aim of this was clear, and I foolishly opted to challenge some of the abuse, harassment and threats.”
Stan Mortensen
A month after those charges, the removal of a statue of Stan Mortensen - a player of legendary status at Blackpool after his FA Cup final hat-trick - angered fans before a protest march outside Bloomfield Road. Following Oyston’s declaration that Blackpool should be ‘judged at the end of the season’, Blackpool were relegated from the Championship with a record low points tally.
Ahead of the ‘judgment day’ protest, fans were asked to lay memorabilia and messages at the foot of the statue on the 62nd anniversary of Mortensen’s FA Cup final hat-trick, Blackpool’s solitary major trophy triumph.
But fans were shocked to find the statue removed by the club. Speaking to The Guardian at the time, The Tangerine Knights’ spokesperson, Stephen Smith, said: “I think the removal of the statue is too coincidental with the timing of the planned protest at the weekend. The removal of it is utterly disgraceful. Karl Oyston knew that we had plans to lay memorabilia at the foot of the statue given that it was the 62nd anniversary of Mortensen’s hat-trick at Wembley.”
In 2010, Blackpool hit the jackpot. After appointing Ian Holloway as manager, the Seasiders secured a place in the Championship play-offs by finishing sixth in the table. After beating Cardiff City 3-2 at Wembley on a historic day for the club, Blackpool achieved Premier League status for the first time. What made the achievement all the more impressive was the budget in which Holloway assembled a promotion-gaining squad with.
Star man Charlie Adam was the club’s record signing at £531,000, while the club benefitted from the loan players such as striker DJ Campbell and Everton full-back Seamus Coleman. Having gained promotion, Blackpool fans were under the assumption that subsequent £80 million cash injection would bring a new chapter in the club’s fortunes, but it soon became evident that this would not be the case.
Having spent just over £5m on new players going into the new top-flight campaign, Holloway was already up against it in his bid to keep Blackpool from heading straight back down.
Blackpool’s Squires Gate training ground was described as a ‘hell hole’ by the Blackpool boss, and, due to the lack of indoor facilities, the players were forced to train on the beach ahead of a Premier League clash against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. Despite Holloway and the players’ best efforts, the Seasiders were relegated on the final day of the season, after just one season in the Premier League.
Fans’ anger soon turned to utter dismay when it was revealed that Owen Oyston paid himself £11m, through a payment to his company Segesta Limited, following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.
Overall, it was soon to be revealed that £26.77m was paid out of the club to companies under Oyston ownership. The Oystons’ priorities were clear, and despite Blackpool reaching unprecedented heights under their ownership, the common thought amongst Blackpool fans was that the Premier League jackpot was a winning ticket that the club chose not cash in. A missed opportunity came and went in just one season.
'They just trousered the money and said “sod it we’ll just go straight back down'
“Blackpool are the only club in the history of the Premier League who didn’t give their manager a chance or spend anything. They just trousered the money and said “sod it we’ll just go straight back down,” said ex-Liverpool chief executive Christian Purslow. Few clubs, if any, have gained promotion to English football’s premium competition on such a small budget, and with such inadequate facilities.
With relegation back to the Championship and a number of club heroes, including both Charlie Adam and Ian Holloway, gone, Blackpool plummeted on a downwards spiral down the Football League. It wasn't long until enough was enough for many Blackpool supporters.
Fans felt that the only way for the club to be rid of Oyston ownership was for them to stop attending matches altogether. And so the ‘Not a Penny More’ campaign began, fans began to boycott matches and their association with home matches, or any game that was of financial benefit to the owners, was brought to a sad, abrupt end.
The majority of supporters’ boycott means only a few thousand now attend home games – as opposed to sell-out 15,000 crowds just a few years ago. For those who have protested relentlessly and boycotted all home games, there will have been points where it felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. But now fans have reason to be optimistic within the darkness of absence.
Christine Seddon said: “I sat in court in June 2017 when all the evidence was provided. Sitting and listening to emails being read out which shows how Owen and Karl and their inner circle were plotting, within five days of us getting to the Premier League, how to remove £20m in one go to their other businesses and for their other uses - without telling Valeri Belokon, and obviously without telling the supporters.
“The sheer cynical manipulation of us all made me feel sick. It’s very unique what is happening at Blackpool. When Karl was the chairman he took on this role as pantomime villain, which just wound people up to such a degree that they've brought all this on themselves.”
For Blackpool fans, Monday 6th November 2017 could prove to be a date that sparked a change in ownership at the club. The club’s first, and only, major trophy was an historic FA Cup triumph in 1953, but, to many fans, the result was arguably the most important since that day – and no ball was kicked. Fittingly, 53 Blackpool fans made the trip down to London High Court to cheer the verdict of the bitter court battle between Owen Oyston and Latvian minority shareholder Valeri Belokon.
Belokon, who purchased a 20 per cent stake in the club in 2006 through his company VB Football Assets, brought an action against the Oystons and their companies alleging that they had shown ‘unfair prejudice’ against shareholders.
Without the funds injected into the club by Belokon, it would have been much tougher for Blackpool, who were then a League One side, to gain two promotions and reach the Premier League. But despite the financial benefits that came with that status, Belokon argued that he did not receive the correct benefits as shareholder. His relationship with the Oystons soon turned sour, and court proceedings to determine so began.
Lawyers for VB Football argued that both Mr Belokon and his nominated directors were excluded from key decisions, information and share of profits. Owen Oyston, Blackpool’s majority shareholder, and his son Karl, the club’s chairman, denied the accusations during a lengthy civil trial in 2017. Justice Marcus Smith ruled in favour of Belekon, to the sum of £31.27million plus costs to be exact, and £10million to be paid within 28 days.
The 163-page ruling of the high court judge was damning, concluding that the Oystons ‘illegitimately stripped’ the club of £26.77million, and operated ‘with great prejudice’ to it. And in doing so, the Oystons were ordered to pay Belokon that amount, plus his 20 per cent stake to trigger a ‘financial buy-out’. Four days later, Owen Oyston puts Blackpool Football Club up for sale.
On December 4 2017, Owen Oyston paid the first £10m payment to Belokon, but Oyston misses the deadline for the next £10m payment in January. In February 2018, Justice Marcus Smith orders Oyston to pay up the remaining £25m or face the consequences of legal enforcement action.
In May 2018, Belokon’s legal advisors Clifford Chance confirmed legal enforcement was underway, and Belokon sent bailiffs to Bloomfield Road. Oyston then met with Belokon in Latvia in June, accompanied with businessman Jonathan Disley, who appeared to be in talks regarding investment into the club. But seven months on, Oyston is still in charge at Blackpool and court proceedings unresolved.
Fit and proper
The irony of the whole situation is that Oyston is considered to be a ‘fit and proper’ owner under the Football League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test, despite the high court ruling.
The test is restricted to barring people becoming directors or owners if they have an unspent criminal conviction involving dishonesty. Oyston’s criminal conviction for rape is not recognised – because it was before the 2004 test was introduced, it is discounted.
But Belokon is in fact barred from owning a football club, as he was convicted and given a 20-year jail term in Kyrgyzstan for ‘money laundering, tax evasion and dishonesty’ in his absence in May 2017.
While Belokon may have all the best intentions of taking over at Blackpool, his disqualification from the Owners’ and Directors’ Test makes the saga all the more complicated. Latvian Belokon has described the charges as ‘politically motivated’, claiming it ‘ignored the most basic principles of natural justice’.
Unexpected twists
Christine Seddon had hopes of the situation being resolved after the court case, but as is with all things with Blackpool, the tale has taken many unexpected twists. “It has been so depressing really,” she said.
“We had high hopes in November 2017 when Valeri Belokon won such an incredible award in court and of course the court proceedings themselves provided the evidence and the proof of what so many fans were saying for such a long time. So it seemed as if surely this is it now and Owen had got to realise that his time is up and he did in fact say that he was putting the club up for sale, but the reality is that he has just dug in and refused to engage properly with either Valeri to come to some negotiated settlement or, I suspect, with any other potential investor.
“I just feel that he is refusing to face the reality of his own situation so he is just not doing anything - that can’t continue. The court’s judgment will take its toll eventually but its just taking such a long time, I think that's where the frustration comes in for Blackpool fans because its us and the club that’s suffering while this saga rumbles along. Eventually, we are hopeful that this coming year will see some real movement and maybe Mr Belokon will pull the financial trigger and get Mr Oyston’s assets sold or whatever else can be done legally. It has gone on for far too long that’s for sure.”
Another Oyston in charge
In the aftermath of the court judgment, Karl was sacked as chairman of the club and was replaced by his sister Natalie Christopher. It was her first role as chairwoman at the club, becoming the fourth Oyston family member to take up the role. The decision intensified rumours of a family feud between Owen and Karl.
Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, Christopher reiterated Owen’s desire to sell the club, despite no progress being made with potential investors. She said: "In an ideal situation, he'd like to be able to agree a settlement and find the money and move on. He'll only sell if he absolutely has to.
"If, financially, someone comes along and they can afford to pay the wages and look after it for the next hundred years, then it might be an consideration. It's not his first choice but he's not going to see it come to any harm if he can help it."
Despite controlling shares in the club being offered to Belokon for £5m, Christopher doesn’t believe the Latvian wants to take the club on. The £5m offer to Belokon made no mention of the stadium, hotel and training ground, or the outstanding £25m debt.
"I don't think Mr Belokon wants to take the club on," she said. "I think there's been some mixed messages there from everybody. It's been around the town that he wants to come and take it over when I don't think that's his intention.
"He may surprise us. Owen knows he has the finances to look after it in the future so he'll be comfortable in him taking it and moving forward with it if that's what Mr Belokon wanted to do. It's a difficult situation and it's got to be settled somehow."
'I share your concerns and take the criticism. I feel the frustration together with you'
But in a New Year’s message to Blackpool fans, Belokon reiterated his dedication to Blackpool Football Club and their supporters. He said: "In this dark but wonderful time of the year I would like to send you good thoughts and wishes.
"Yes, our club is going through perhaps the darkest times in its history. It is very sad and frustrating to see that it takes so long. Another year has passed yet there seems to be no progress.
"I have been criticised because of the slow progress that is being made. I share your concerns and take the criticism. I feel the frustration together with you.
"Unfortunately, the path that we have been forced to take is long, harmful and dividing the fans. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that this is the only path that we can follow given the current circumstances. The progress is slow but it is inevitable. I strongly believe that we will see changes next year.
"Today the only person who can make quicker progress is Owen. The fastest way towards a solution is for Owen to settle the judgement debt and facilitate the changes. Any other proposals, speculations or alternative scenarios would make it lengthier, require extensive due diligence and draw the process out well into 2019.
"If Owen really wants to help the club, he needs to pay the debts and allow changes to happen. Unfortunately, the level of trust between us is at its historical lowest point.
"I have said before and maintain my position that I would seriously consider my involvement in Blackpool only when the legal dispute with Owen is settled. I would only do it together with a strong local partner.
"I know that there are serious and honourable businessmen who are thinking about Blackpool FC. At the moment it is too early to discuss my involvement as no agreement has been reached.”
With Blackpool set to face Arsenal in the FA Cup on BT Sport, and a potential upset on the cards, it could be a game that lives long in the memory for Blackpool fans. But unfortunately, for many, that is unlikely. Yes, thousands of fans will be going down the Bloomfield road, but not to see the Blackpool aces. They will instead protest outside then ground in another demonstration against the ownership of their club.
The FA Cup
The match that secured the game against Arsenal, a second round tie at home to non-league side Solihull Moors, saw the unimaginable sight of three empty stands aired on live TV in a vital FA Cup tie. For fans that aren’t aware of the situation, Blackpool’s support has been questioned, their loyalty challenged. But for many, not going to the ground is the only way they can one day return to the club they love. Suffering in the present, they hope, will lead to prosperity in the future.
Christine Seddon speaks for many fans when she says that while she admires the incredibly tough job that Blackpool manager Terry McPhillips and the players are doing, fans are in the excruciating position of questioning whether they want their team to win.
She said: “Credit to Terry McPhillips and the squad for what they are doing under incredibly difficult circumstances. I fear for the next few months because we do not know what is going to happen – will the club go into administration? There’s a possibility that Mr Belokon could appoint a court-appointed receiver to take over the selling of Mr Oyston’s assets – technically the EFL could view that as a insolvency event like administration and deduct points from the club. You would hope not because it is not the football club’s fault, not the team’s fault and not the fan’s fault – it’s down to one man.
“There is a great deal of uncertainty. For lifelong fans, many of whom are boycotting, it is just tragic that you can’t be fully behind your team. No football fan should be in a position where they feel they cant go because they’re having to campaign in this way, but also in a Cup game if Blackpool were to win against Arsenal on Saturday then that’s more money for Mr Oyston to help him cling on a bit longer. Do we want them to win? Of course we do, but actually we’ve been boycotting for nearly four years to withhold money so why would we want them to win this game, because that would help keep them in place. It’s an awful situation to be in, and it simply shouldn’t be happening.”