I’m happy to forward this to you all – I believe fans should help each other for the benefit of all. I’m a Reading fan, as many of you know, but I write regularly on many different forums, and feel that I know the ins-and-outs of many. I also help to organize inter-forum games and competitions. Right now the overwhelming majority of Blackpool fans need YOU to sign their big petition - please help! The following should help to explain everything. If you still feel you need more info as good as any: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Oyston from Blackpool Supporters Trust Hi All, Any assistance that you can give in supporting our petition would be greatly appreciated. You may already have heard, but our club chairman Karl Oyston has been in the press this week for insulting a fan by text. The press has focused on the use of language which could be considered offensive including use of the term "******" and the comment "Enjoy your special needs day out", which have been widely condemned, due to the offence it may cause to the disabled, their families and indeed decent society. Football is supposed to be inclusive and clearly the use of such language cannot be tolerated. However Oyston has not only insulted those with disabilities, he also appears to believe that normal everyday working people are also somehow beneath him and in doing so has widely insulted football fans across the country. Here is one example of a text sent to a Blackpool fan by Karl Oyston... "So let me get this straight, you think that despite knowing and being friendly with other chairman in the FL and PL, venture capitalists, bankers, entrepeneurs, very successful businessmen, government ministers, MP's and a whole host of notable worthies, that I should single out a fat flaccid painter and decorator/consultant whose crowning achievment is taking his poor family on holiday to Orlando for three torturous weeks a year? really? I suggest you slip discreetly back into whatever foul pond you emerged from. Crack on as I am enjoying myself. you are on toast and are too simple to realise it. In fact you have cheered me up no end and made me realise I am right to completely ignore the influential fans so cheers." Karl Oyston. Karl Oyston is, as you may be aware, also on the Football League Board and therefore has an influential role in the decisions that may affect your football club. We firmly believe there is no place in football for anyone with such a dismissive attitude towards us, the fans. Blackpool Fans also believe that Oyston should be removed from his position on the Football League board. ................................................................................................................................................................................... Club President Valeri Belokon has called upon all Blackpool fans to support a petition for Club Chairman Karl Oyston to step down from his position with immediate effect. Blackpool Supporters Trust would ask that our members , Blackpool fans and indeed all in the football community support Mr Belokons request and sign the attached petition that requests that Mr Karl Oyston step down from any position of influence in Blackpool FC immediately. This petition will be submitted to the FA and Football League as well as to Blackpool Football Club owner Mr Owen Oyston. As many fans will be aware, Karl Oyston has recently been in the national and local media, having engaged in a series of abusive text exchanges with Blackpool supporters, which has further sullied the good name of Blackpool FC through association. The attitude displayed by Mr Oyston, not only in regard to the unacceptable references to disabilities and ' special needs ' but in his general attitude towards hard working Blackpool fans in general makes him in our view unsuitable to hold a position of influence within our famous community football club. For some time the relationship between Club and its fans has been strained and it is our firm belief that many of these issues are a direct result of Karl Oyston and his confrontational approach to the fan base. This latest outburst from Mr Oyston is simply a very public demonstration of an attitude that as has no place on football and decent society and which in addition has had a negative impact on relations between Karl Oyston and numerous managers , board members , members of the Press , players , fans and of course, Mr Belokon himself. When one individual manages to sour relations with so many other people, then the source of the problem becomes patently obvious. Karl Oyston seems incapable of managing everyday relationships without conflict and that cannot be good for Blackpool Football Club. The time has come for Blackpool Football Club to move on into a new era of cooperation between Club and its fans and the wider community and for us to build upon the success that Valeri Belokon's substantial investment had brought about. Blackpool Supporters Trust call upon Mr Owen Oyston to remove Karl Oyston from any position of influence with immediate effect and re-establish a working relationship with Valeri Belokon, with a view to making positive progress, placing football first, investing properly for the success of the team and to start treating the fans and community of Blackpool with the respect that they deserve from the ambassador of our historic club. Please sign the online petition detailing your full name & email address, together with any comments that you feel are relevant. Sign Petition HERE Thanks!!!
Signed as well Beth. Having survived Tango & Cash, I just hope that Blackpool can get through this situation. It don't matter if they have to suffer a couple of relegations before lift off re-appears. OYSTON, just get out of our gme!
this in the papers BLACKPOOL FC chairman Karl Oyston called a loyal fan a “******” and “f***tard” in a bitter foul-mouthed rant. He launched his tirade at Steve Smith, branding him an “intellectual cripple”. The text exchange was started by Steve to get some answers on the running of the Championship strugglers — who were thumped 6-1 at home by Bournemouth yesterday. But the football boss referred to him and other disgruntled fans as “lower mentality types”. Oyston raged at the dad-of-three: “Sorry your life is so s*** but that’s only your fault not mine. Enjoy the rest of your special needs day out.” He asked: “Are you sure we’ve met? I’m sure I’d have remembered such a massive ******. Impossible to have a meaningful conversation with such a f******* as you.” Oyston, whose dad Owen is a convicted rapist, may face an FA probe after being reported. Business boss, Steve, 31, said Oyston banned him from the ground. He added: “As a chairman you should respond in a polite manner.” Mencap called Oyston’s language “disgusting”. Despite repeated requests, he was not available for comment. Probably because he knows he's gone too far this time. For somebody who claims to be thick skinned and not bothered by fans chants, demonstrations etc, why is he having one fan (who has in a professional capacity done work for KO, some time ago, and has still not been paid) having the police on his doorstep, weekly, requiring him to accompany them to the station for questioning on the grounds of harassment? Why is he banning lifetime fans for the most puerile reasons? He is alienating his customer base because they dare challenge his decisions. Some things transcend rivalry, this is one. Oh, and why would someone who has publicly said he doesn't care for football be the chairman of a championship club AND be on the FL board?
Latest - taken from a Blackpool fan forum. You won't believe this mates! Desperate stuff ... "Up to now most fans threatened with legal action regarding comments made on this forum and other forms of social media have only received letters of pre action . As you may have recently read on other posts one of our fellow posters has now received documents from the Oystons' solicitors which require him to fill in earnings and assets to be presented to the courts as well as a request to submit his defence . They have also paid the court fees for £610 to take the poster concerned to the High Court in Manchester with a claim lodged for up to £50,000 each for John Owen Oyston, Karl Samuel Oyston and Blackpool Football Club Limited .One of the ludicrous claims the solicitors have made is that the comments made by this fan have, amongst other claims for damages, hit this years season ticket sales. Our request for help is for anyone reading this message board who didn't renew this season, e-mails on the following address a quick resume as to why they didn't renew. Possible reasons may include a lack of investment over the past few seasons, being treated with contempt by the present owners, having only 8 players up to a week before the season started, pre season training tour cancelled etc etc etc. This in effect will show any judge preciding that to make a claim for these damages is ridiculous to say the least. Many thanks for your time and if any other fans have received a summons that we don't know about that these emails may also help please let us know on the below email address." [email protected]
Wow, I'm almost speechless. Can I now be sued for having and voicing an opinion on a public sports forum? A very sad example of how modern life is going. Surely this will not stand up in court under the freedom of speech act?
