The resignation of Lee Clark and his assistant Alan Thompson should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following the farce that is Blackpool FC (“How not to run a football club”) this season. Today’s terse statements by both Clark and the Club are indicative of the deep-seated problems that assail the club. Clark, a man steeped in experience of the professional game at all levels, found himself completely out of his depth. Blackpool is in the unique position of being run unlike any other football club or indeed any other business. Some would question Clark’s abilities as a manager, and his record has been very poor over the last year or so, but his passion, determination and commitment to the task were clear for all to see. However, it is also obvious that he came to view the position of Blackpool FC manager as an impossible job.
Ever since the departure of Ian Holloway and the misguided decision to let Steve Thompson go, the Club has appointed a succession of managers, some who have only stayed for a matter of weeks before resigning or getting sacked. Fans can only surmise that these managers’ vision for what they wanted to do at Blackpool FC was a variance with the views of Club chairman Karl Oyston and that whatever promises or agreements were made to entice them to Bloomfield Road turned out to be illusory. Oyston has been criticised roundly for a lack of ambition, strategy and investment in the footballing side of the Club. His approach has been dubbed a “bargain basement” business plan of short-term player loans and one-year contracts. Furthermore, and most damningly, he appears to spend as much time trying to goad fans, sue his customers and bring the game into disrepute as he does actually running his business. Blackpool FC fielded over 50 players in the season just ended. Such an approach is no way to attract players or managers of ambition to Bloomfield Road. We believe that even a Moyes or a Mourhino would struggle to keep Blackpool FC from getting relegated again next season given the attitude of the current owners of the Club.
The resignation that Blackpool Football Club really needs is that of Club chairman Karl Oyston. It is his choices and decisions that dictate the footballing fortunes of the club. He and his family have made a unique and irreparable mess of a beloved institution. The Oystons must take responsibility for the parlous state of the football club. In our opinion there is little chance of fortunes improving at Blackpool FC while they are at the helm.
The only constructive way forward is for the Oystons to do the honourable thing and depart the club — the sooner the better. | |
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