Blackpool Supporters' Trust bid hope to 'rescue' club from 'disarray'

The Blackpool Supporters' Trust (BST) wants to buy the town's League One club to "rescue" it from "disarray".

The Trust has launched a £16m bid to try to take control of the Seasiders from owner Owen Oyston.

"The way the club is being run is not acceptable to Blackpool fans," spokesperson Christine Seddon told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Blackpool is in disarray - there's been so much documented recently about the state we've got into."

The Tangerines were relegated from the Championship last season after winning only four of their 46 matches, and their points total of 26 was 13 fewer than next-to-bottom Wigan.

Chairman Karl Oyston has been involved in disputes with supporters, including sending abusive texts to a fan that saw him banned from football activity, and was also spoken to recently by police about carrying a firearm.

Blackpool fans staged a protest in the centre circle in their final match of last season after relegation

There have been a number of demonstrations at the way the Oyston family have run the club, with protesting fans causing the final game of the season against Huddersfield at Bloomfield Road to be abandoned after a pitch invasion.

"For many fans they see the regime, the Oyston family, as ethically compromised, and therefore it has become a matter of principle - we cannot support something that isn't right," said Seddon.

"So really the only way to move forward, we see, is to try and get hold of the club ourselves."

The trust has set a deadline of 21 July for a reply to their offer, but have denied current Seasiders president Valeri Belokon is involved in their effort.

"No, he isn't part of this bid - this is a bid that stands on its own two feet," added Seddon.

"He's certainly been interested in BST and what we've had to do, so we'll have to wait and see if he wants further involvement."