Oyston removed from Blackpool board

Owen Oyston’s control over Blackpool FC appears to be coming to an end.

Owen Oyston has been removed from the Blackpool board of directors by a Court Receiver.

Paul Cooper – appointed by the High Court to run the League One club and find a buyer – has made a number of changes to the structure of Blackpool FC Ltd’s board that also includes the removal of Oyston’s daughter Natalie Christopher.

Oyston has also been removed from Blackpool FC (Properties) Ltd along with fellow director Clive Brooks, and they have been replaced by a new four-man board that will oversee the day-to-day running of entire business.

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They are Ben Hatton (executive director), Ian Currie (non-executive director), Michael Bolingbroke (consultant to the board) and Tim Fielding (non-executive director carrying out observational role with no voting rights).

Cooper said: “I am delighted to announce these appointments as I believe they demonstrate the high calibre of individual, who is prepared to work with all the stakeholders of this great club to ensure it can perform at the highest level in the most professional, transparent and optimal way.”

Cooper revealed last week that there has already been a “significant level of interest” in buying the club, who are ninth in the third tier.

He told the Blackpool Gazette: “We’ve already had a very significant level of interest in the club in the first six days. I’ve received over 20 indications of interest.

“Now I can’t comment on who that is, what funds they’ve got, the veracity… all those things. But this is a very, very public situation that people are aware of.

“Just like the fans and all of the stakeholders who have been waiting for change here, I think a lot of people who are interested in the club have seen that latent demand build up and now it’s coming to the fore because they see the opportunity for change.”