| The EFL, KO, and the guy from Port Vale Article 21:41 - Apr 1 with 184 views | spell_chekker |
Mention of Karl now seems like a blast from the past .
Here's the article -
The EFL on why Blackpool's Karl Oyston was mentor for Port Vale's Norman Smurthwaite
The EFL have responded to the Port Vale Supporters' Club about Karl Oyston and Norman Smurthwaite
It was one of the most eyebrow raising comments of a memorable encounter between Port Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite and fans at a no--holds-barred supporters club meeting.
Smurthwaite was invited to the meeting last season fielded open questions from the floor for a couple of hours.
One such question was, is it actually true that the EFL gave then Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston to Smurthwaite as a mentor.
The Vale owner confirmed that was indeed the case.
Now the Supporters' Club have taken that issue up with the EFL asking why a chairman who was controversial at Blackpool would be a seen as a suitable mentor for the man at the helm of Port Vale.
Mark Porter, chairman of the Supporters' Club, wrote to the EFL asking for an explanation, and they wrote back.
The EFL explained that Oyston was assigned to Smurthwaite way back when the Vale owner was new to the club, having bought the Valiants out of administration in 2012/13.
They said: "Thanks for your email, we understand your concerns and note the comments you made throughout.
"In relation to your query regarding mentorship, at the time of Norman Smurthwaite's initial involvement at Port Vale, a then Football League mentor policy was in operation.
"This policy aimed to provide new owners with a mentor, to speak and liaise with in circumstances where they did not feel they were required to directly engage with the league.
"Blackpool's approach to player expenditure was of interest to Norman Smurthwaite, and he was assigned Karl Oyston as mentor who, during that time, had been voted as a Championship representative on the Football League board.
"Of course, these events fell prior to the well-documented difficulties that have since faced Blackpool FC.
"The EFL's overriding aim is to ensure the long-term sustainability of our 72 member clubs, and see our competitions, and the league prosper as a whole.
"While clubs have a responsibility to engage and consult with their fanbase, the EFL will look to advise supporters and supporters' groups on any relevant matters or ongoing concerns as appropriate."
The email was revealed by Porter during the last Vale Supporters' Club meeting at which members of the Blackpool Supporters Trust were guest speakers.
Karl Oyston was chairman of Blackpool from 1999 until February 2018. A large section of Blackpool fans have boycotted the club for the last four years over the way he and his father Owen Oyston ran the club.
But this February, Owen Oyston was removed from the board of the club. That was after Blackpool were put into receivership by the High Court. | |
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| The EFL, KO, and the guy from Port Vale Article on 13:36 - Apr 3 with 147 views | basilrobbiereborn |
To be fair to the EFL, this was a while ago before our current difficulties had really got going. And there is nothing wrong with a mentoring policy per se ; we can't nod approvingly when BST get involved in one but condemn it when the EFL do it.
There are a great many things than can be laid at the EFL's door. But whilst this is mildly embarrassing for them, it is small beer in the overall scheme of things. | |
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