Posted on 9th March 2018
Blackpool fans are looking to pay tribute to club legend Jimmy Armfield with a new mural outside Bloomfield Road.
EFL to meet Blackpool fans following protest
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
Blackpool fans have been invited to meet with senior EFL officials to discuss the club’s case which follows a protest at the league’s headquarters.
Last Friday, around 100-150 Blackpool fans led by the Tangerine Knights fan group braved the cold to march on EFL headquarters in Preston, demanding the league act against the club’s deeply unpopular owners.
Our affiliates at Blackpool Supporters’ Trust (BST) welcomed the EFL’s invitation to meet with supporter representatives.
Chair of the trust Christine Seldon said: “These actions appear to have made some sort of impression, which has resulted in the offer of a meeting.
“BST are very pleased that this offer has finally been made and sincerely hope that we can now make some progress in reforming football governance.”
“This is a first step on the long road to effective change.”
Ahead of last week’s march, Blackpool fans launched a petition calling for Government-led reform of the EFL into a truly independent regulator – that petition now has almost 7,000 signatures.
The petition calls on the Government to introduce a regulator ensuring the “highest possible standards of governance for all clubs”.
Invites for the meeting will be sent to representatives from the Blackpool Supporters Trust, Tangerine Knights, A View from the Tower, Back Henry Street, Blackpool MPs and the Blackpool Gazette.
At the meeting, the EFL says fans will be given the opportunity to raise their concerns and EFL officials will endeavour to provide answers wherever possible.
EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, said: “There are clearly a number of issues to be discussed in relation to the club’s difficult and complex situation and we will endeavour to provide answers to the questions raised, where we can.
“The EFL will continue to act in good faith towards the supporters of the club, and whilst this may not currently be the view shared across all sections of Blackpool’s fanbase, we will be happy to meet with the various parties to discuss their concerns.”
Thanks to Jane Atkinson for the image used in this news story.
