BLACKPOOL OWNERSHIP
Football fans should not be celebrating a High Court judgement in the same way they might a play-off final win, yet that was the reality for Blackpool’s boycotting supporters recently. Last month saw the conclusion of a lengthy boardroom battle between majority owners the Oyston family and Valeri Belokon, the Latvian businessman who holds a 20 per cent stake in the club. The latter was claiming unfair prejudice and Justice Marcus Smith ordered that Belokon’s shares be acquired by the Oystons for £31.27 million as the remedy for his successful claim.
Friends and family, almost estranged by their collective boycott for the past couple of years, swapped excitable texts and emails at the prospect that this decision could see the back of the Oystons, allowing the stayaways to once more take their tangerine seats together at Bloomfield Road. The current owners have now been found by a High Court judge to have “illegitimately stripped” the club by paying themselves “disguised dividends” totalling £26.77m. Justice Smith determined there to have been a gentleman’s agreement between the two sides that would entitle Belokon to an equal share of the club, so awarded him the same dividends, plus his original £4.5m investment back.
Denne historien er fra January 2018-utgaven av When Saturday Comes.
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Denne historien er fra January 2018-utgaven av When Saturday Comes.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Pirate Transmission
Broadcasters around the world are paying huge sums to screen football, but they will not be willing to invest if they cannot be protected.
Scandi Drama
Years before it was screened live in the UK, Englandâs Football League was building a cult following abroad thanks to a visionary broadcaster.
Pot Of Gold
A rare meeting between two local rivals brought FA Cup fever â and a useful financial boost â to one corner of Hertfordshire
Digital Divide
From earnest post-match punditry to being used in actual playersâ matchday preparations, the virtual game is becoming increasingly blurred with reality.
Haringey Ladder
The decision to walk off in the face of abuse has shone a national spotlight on a community club with a progressive approach
Bournemouth 0 Norwich City 0
Dean Court may have received a Premier League facelift but against todayâs visitors the home team fail to live up to their status, although the low-quality draw they play out is still somehow reassuring.
Room With A View
Hampden Park
Not In The Script
ARSENAL FILM
Out Of Place...
After another unsuccessful qualifying attempt Martin O’Neill is under pressure, while a poor Republic of Ireland squad is only getting weaker
Uncomfortable Truth
At the end of April Sheffield United surprised many people by re-signing Ched Evans, who, following a retrial, has now been found not guilty of the rape charge for which he spent two-and-a-half years in prison.
