EFL invites fans to discuss Blackpool concerns
Thursday 1 March 2018 09:57, UK
The English Football League has invited Blackpool fans and other interested parties to discuss the concerns around the club at a meeting in March.
Sections of the League One side's support have boycotted games protesting at the stewardship of the Oyston family, who own the club, and the fans have been critical over a perceived lack of response from the EFL.
Fans have called on owner Owen Oyston, who was ordered to pay minority shareholder Valeri Belokon £31m last November, to quit the club.
An EFL statement read: "Invites for the meeting, which will be issued next week, will be sent to representatives from the Blackpool Supporters Trust, Tangerine Knights, A View from the Tower, Back Henry Street, Blackpool MPs and the Blackpool Gazette.
"Access to the meeting will be restricted to those invited groups only and spaces will be limited.
"At the meeting, attendees will be given the opportunity to raise their concerns and EFL officials will endeavour to provide answers wherever possible and explain its position on a number of matters that have previously been raised in the public domain.
"The club has been informed of the intention to host this meeting and the EFL reserves the right to withdraw the offer to meet supporter groups if there are any further incidents of unwarranted abuse directed at EFL members of staff, either online or in person."
EFL Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: "There are clearly a number of issues to be discussed in relation to the club's difficult and complex situation and we will endeavour to provide answers to the questions raised, where we can.
"The EFL will continue to act in good faith towards the supporters of the club, and whilst this may not currently be the view shared across all sections of Blackpool's fanbase, we will be happy to meet with the various parties to discuss their concerns."
The Tangerine Knights have welcomed the EFL's offer but will continue with their planned protest outside the EFL's headquarters on Friday.
They posted on Twitter: "We will accept and thank @EFL for this opportunity to discuss failings within the club and the EFL.
"Friday's protest will continue and this news should encourage more to turn up."
