A former Mayor of Blackpool has called for the council assisted fans buy out of Blackpool Football Club.



The club was put up for sale last week following the conclusion of the High Court case between the Oystons and former club president, Valeri Belokon.

Local businessman Robert Wynne says bringing the club into community ownership could work.

Mr Wynne, who now owns a number of businesses in the resort including the West Coast Rock cafe and the Rose & Crown, said:

''I have no idea whether Blackpool FC is really for sale, or what the expected price would be, but realistically it should be a low price. It is losing money, doesn’t have any great current prospects and isn’t in an area with high property values.

''I think this is a chance for the town to buy it’s football club and make sure it is run for the benefit of the people who love it.

''The Council bought the Winter Gardens and the Tower and the Airport in recent years. I don’t envisage them buying and running a football club, that would end up being a disaster. However what about the Council assisting a buy out by the fans?

''We could just hope for a magic owner like Roman Abramovich, but realistically we are more likely to get someone with an eye on a personal gain and no real love for the team or the town.

''So how about a club owned by the fans? Minimum investment maybe £500, maximum investment £5000. No one person dominating. We would need a lot of investors, maybe ten thousand investors, but Blackpool FC has fans all over the world and is loved in the town and by ex Sand Grown or Blackpudlians everywhere.

''We might not end up with a team competing with Chelsea every season, but we could end up with a team to be proud of, with real community ownership.
It would have ups and downs, but they would be our ups and downs.

''Because of the mass ownership it would have mass support and be financially viable. It could be a model for the future of professional football.
It really needs the local council to try and make this happen.''