MX23RW : Monday, November 18 02:39:24| >> :300:86412:86412:

Blackpool board take "full responsibility" for club's relegation to fourth tier

Blackpool's board take "full responsibility" for the club's current plight after their relegation to the fourth tier of English football.

The Blackpool board has accepted "full responsibility" for the club's current plight after they were relegated to the fourth tier of English football on Sunday.

The Seasiders were thrashed 5-1 by Peterborough United on the final day of the season at the weekend to confirm back-to-back relegations that will leave them playing League Two football next season.

Blackpool were a Premier League club just five years ago, but the intervening seasons have been blighted by protests against chairman Karl Oyston's running of the club.

"Everyone at Blackpool Football Club is deeply hurt and disappointed to have experienced relegation to League Two. The board takes full responsibility for the position we now find ourselves in. An urgent board meeting has been called to discuss the club's future and implement plans to halt further decline," read a statement from the club.

"Mistakes have been made in the last few years and we continue to pay for some of them, whilst learning from others. The club virtually overhauled its playing squad last summer and changed its philosophy on contracts to ensure longer-term stability, while investing in younger players to develop.

"Although the policy hasn't immediately come to fruition in terms of results on the pitch, the nucleus of a young side remains and the rebuilding work starts immediately to make a swift return to League One. We understand that the supporters care passionately about the club and want to see it succeed. Fan representation on the board has already been initiated.

"A democratic process for fan board membership will be implemented for the coming season and it is hoped that the fans will have a large say in shaping future policy. It has been proposed that areas of control will be devolved to the FPG (Fans' Progress Group) so that fans have a level of influence that has previously been absent. There are financial implications that apply to competing in League Two next season and we must comply with Football League rules.

"Operations will now be reviewed over the summer, however there is a determination to bounce back and achieve the results required with the right personnel to deliver this. The board does not underestimate the challenge ahead and will now re-focus its energies to rectify things on-the-pitch and try to repair some of those off it, whilst sadly accepting that some of the issues may not be curable. We look forward to working closely with the club's supporters to begin a positive resurgence."

The Tangerines picked up just one point and scored only one goal in their final five matches of the League One season.

ID:272319: cacheID:272319:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3512:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Brett Ormerod of Wrexham AFC controls the ball during the Pre Season Friendly match between Wrexham AFC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Racecourse Ground on July 16, 2013
Read Next:
Ormerod understands Blackpool fans' anger
>
Read more about Karl Oyston Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe14102232161632
2Birmingham CityBirmingham1393124121230
3Wrexham1584322111128
4Stockport CountyStockport167632617927
5Barnsley157532419526
6Lincoln CityLincoln157532117426
7Mansfield TownMansfield137332015524
8Huddersfield TownHuddersfield147252114723
9Exeter CityExeter147251410423
10Reading147252221123
11Bolton WanderersBolton147252224-223
12Peterborough UnitedPeterborough156363127421
13Charlton AthleticCharlton145451515019
14Bristol Rovers155371621-518
15Stevenage155371116-518
16Northampton TownNorthampton154561821-317
17Rotherham UnitedRotherham154561418-417
18Blackpool154562128-717
19Wigan AthleticWigan143561212014
20Leyton Orient144281418-414
21Crawley TownCrawley163491427-1313
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge143291324-1111
23Burton Albion141581525-108
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1522111327-148


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!