England: Supporters Trust hostile takeover bid for Blackpool FC (League One) opens public dispute

The Blackpool Supporters Trust’s (BST) attempts to launch a hostile takeover of Blackpool FC (Sky Bet League One) from its current owners Owen Oyston and his son Karl Oyston has become a public dispute between the parties, with the latest exchange occuring on 06/11/2015.

The Trust first submitted a bid to buy the club in July 2015, and claims the offer is worth £16m (€22.6m). The bid consists of debts owed by the Oystons to the club being written off, as well as outstanding loans to the club president, Valeri Belokon, being assumed by the Trust. Land belonging to the club, which includes a hotel, would also be handed over to the Oystons.

However, there would be no cash involved in the takeover. "Is it true that you are not putting in one penny of new money into the club? It would be irresponsible of me to simply hand [the club] over to you as it is clear to any independent observer that you could not operate it successfully," stated Owen Oyston on 31/10/2015.

"I believe that if [the Trust] were left to run the club it would go to the wall" (O. Oyston on 31/10/2015)

• "The proposal…