Karl Oyston

Until 1999, Oyston spent much of his time involved in running the Oyston family businesses, including property management, farming interests and publishing.{{cite news | last = Rosthorn | first = Andrew | title = Guardian's land sale riles Oyston | newspaper = The Independent | date = 17 September 1995 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19950917/ai_n14007042 | access-date = 8 September 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

On 3 April 1999, Oyston took over as chairman of Blackpool, becoming the third member of the Oyston family to occupy the role, after his father and mother, Vicki, from whom he inherited the role.{{cite book|last=Gillatt|first=Peter|title=Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year |publisher=Pitch Publishing Ltd|location=Brighton|date=30 November 2009|pages=59|isbn=1-905411-50-2}}{{cite news | title = Oyston not worried about critics | work = BBC Sport | date =8 May 2008 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/7426132.stm | access-date = 31 August 2008}} Initially he took over the role of managing director, following the resignation of both the previous managing director, Gill Bridge, and Vicki Oyston, who had resigned as chairman following what was described as "an ugly 'Oyston Out' demonstration by fans at the stadium". Oyston had been handed control of the club by his father, who was, at the time, still serving a prison sentence for rape. Oyston stated that his mother had quit to give him a level playing field and let him run the club his way after his father had promised he would not seek to take over again upon his release.{{cite news|title=Why Gill had to go |newspaper=Lancashire Evening Telegraph |date=2 April 1999 |url=http://archive.theboltonnews.co.uk/1999/4/2/776229.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505081654/http://archive.theboltonnews.co.uk/1999/4/2/776229.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |access-date=31 August 2008 }}

In July 2005, Oyston was elected onto the Football League board of directors as a representative of League One,{{cite news | title = Beeks is elected to League board | work = BBC Sport | date = 9 July 2005 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wycombe_wanderers/466907.stm | access-date = 8 September 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} and in June 2006 was elected back onto the board.{{cite news | last = Scott | first = Matt | title = Sheepshanks gets back on board despite role in ITV deal fiasco | newspaper = The Guardian | date = 24 June 2006 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/24/worldcup2006.sport9 | access-date = 8 September 2008}}

In September 2006, after an undercover investigation into illicit payments in football on the BBC Panorama current affairs documentary series, Oyston claimed that he had been offered bungs by football agents, saying "I've been offered cash as a bribe to bring a player to the club and it's happened more than once. In one instance, someone wanted me to take a player on a higher salary than we would normally pay, so he offered me a certain amount of cash as a gift to get me to do it. I said no and it didn't take any time whatsoever to reach that decision. Since 1999 when I became chairman here, my managers have been offered bungs. We've missed out on a lot of footballers because of it and that is one of my biggest concerns. It is very disturbing and in the Premiership where there are huge, huge deals taking place, it is a major problem."{{cite news | title = Liverpool ponder BBC legal action | work = BBC Sport | date = 22 September 2006 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/5369734.stm | access-date = 8 September 2008}}{{cite news | last = Szczepanik | first = Nick | title = Sirens sound as inquiries follow hot on heels of Stevens report | newspaper = The Times | date = 8 May 2008 | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2088103.ece | access-date = 31 August 2008}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news|title=Blackpool Chairman reveals multiple bung offers |publisher=ESPNsoccernet |date=21 September 2006 |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com//news/story?id=380805&&cc=5739 |access-date=8 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907164827/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/ |archive-date= 7 September 2008}} The Football Association asked Oyston, and others who made similar claims, to name the agents concerned, saying that they had a duty to provide evidence.{{cite news | title = FA demands evidence of corruption | work = BBC Sport | date = 29 September 2006 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5393448.stm | access-date = 8 September 2008}}{{cite news | title = BBC & FA hold bung evidence talks | work = BBC Sport | date = 25 September 2006 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5376898.stm | access-date = 8 September 2008}}

On 26 January 2010, Oyston was elected to the Football League board of directors as a representative of the Championship in a ballot for the vacant position,{{cite news|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Oyston-gets-places-on-FL.6012968.jp |title=Oyston gets places on FL board |date=26 January 2010 |newspaper=Blackpool Gazette |access-date=26 January 2010 }}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/footballleaguenews/20100126/oyston-joins-fl-board_2246528_1945027|title=Oyston joins FL Board|date=26 January 2010|publisher=The Football League|access-date=26 January 2010}} but had to leave this post at the end of the season following Blackpool's promotion to the Premier League.

In August 2010, Oyston offered to stand down as chairman of the club, stating his belief that he has a different approach to the rest of the Premier League chairmen and the difficulties of dealing with top-flight players and their agents. Oyston said: "The more I speak to other people at other clubs, the more I realise I am a lone voice. There was some support for things I did and said in the Championship but there doesn't seem to be any in this division ... We are the ones who are the employers. We are the ones offering the terms and the contracts. It is up to us how we go about things. I don't think any deal should be about the agent. It should be about the player, and about giving the player a platform under a wonderful manager to perform on one of the best footballing stages in the world. Agents are sometimes denying their clients that chance."{{cite news|last=Canavan|first=Steve|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Oyston39s-quit-offer-still-stands.6479142.jp|title=Oyston's quit offer still stands|date=17 August 2010|newspaper=Blackpool Gazette|access-date=17 August 2010}}

On 18 August, he stood down as both chairman and director of the club with immediate effect, although he remained as Acting Chief Executive.{{cite web|title=BREAKING NEWS |publisher=Blackpool F.C. |date=18 August 2010 |url=http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~2126893,00.html |access-date=18 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820120149/http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10432~2126893%2C00.html |archive-date=20 August 2010 }}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/8925912.stm|title=Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston resigns |date=18 August 2010|work=BBC Sport|access-date=19 August 2010}} It was subsequently reported that he had been made bankrupt on that date, which would have prevented him acting as chairman due to Premiership rules. The bankruptcy order was annulled on 12 October.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/9085834.stm "Blackpool reveal Karl Oyston bankruptcy order annulment"] – BBC Sport, 12 October 2010 Oyston returned to his role as chairman in 2011.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

On 2 February 2018, Oyston again resigned from his role as chairman of the football club after an alleged rift with his father.

Image:Bloomfield Road East Stand 2-geograph-2039234-by-Terry-Robinson.jpg

Bloomfield Road's South Stand was demolished in 2003. On 14 January of that year, Karl Oyston promised the redevelopment of the stand would go ahead but insisted he would not be pressured into making any rash decisions.{{cite book|last=Gillatt|first=Peter|title=Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year |publisher=Pitch Publishing Ltd|date=30 November 2009|isbn=1-905411-50-2}} Five years later, after no sign of building work became a source of controversy, Oyston stated: "The South will be built as and when it is right for the football business. I know we need to progress as a club and it is top of our agenda, believe me, but it wasn't right to do it now."{{cite news| last = Canavan| first = Steve| title = Oyston breaks silence over stand | work=Blackpool Gazette| date = 6 February 2008| url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Oyston-breaks-silence-over-stand.3747579.jp| access-date =8 February 2008 }} He also confirmed that the club had no immediate plans to start building the stand.{{cite news| title = Blackpool eye planning permission | publisher = BBC| date = 8 February 2008| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/7235280.stm

| access-date =8 February 2008 }} The stand was officially opened in March 2010.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

In 2012, Oyston was fined more than £40,000 for illegally dumping waste from the building of the new stand. Hundreds of tonnes of rubble were found at Whyndyke Farm, despite there not being a permit to do so. Oyston pleaded guilty to two breaches of laws made to protect the environment.[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/oyston-fined-for-dumping-waste-from-stand-6699750.html "Oyston fined for dumping waste from stand"] – The Independent, 10 February 2012

In August 2010, nearly three months after their promotion to the Premier League, Blackpool's players received their bonuses, reported to be £400,000 each.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/8874290.stm "Blackpool players finally receive promotion bonuses"] – BBC Sport, 10 August 2010 Charlie Adam took Karl Oyston to court that October over the non-payment of a £20,000 bonus, which was tied to a $5-million promotion bonus after the club attained Premier League status.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggvPna9aZ3c "Charlie Adam interview: part one"] - Seasiders Podcast, 7 February 2021 Adam won the case.[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/scotland-star-charlie-adam-set-1073982 "Scotland star Charlie Adam set for court battle with Blackpool over bonus row"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216011817/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/scotland-star-charlie-adam-set-1073982 |date=16 February 2015 }} – Daily Record, 28 October 2010

During the 2012–13 season, the state of the Bloomfield Road pitch was criticised by managers and players.[https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/20544144 "Michael Appleton & Alex Baptiste unhappy with Blackpool pitch"] – BBC Sport, 30 November 2012[http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Poor-pitch-Bloomfield-Road-reduce-Blackpool/story-18266989-detail/story.html "Poor pitch at Bloomfield Road will reduce Blackpool versus Bristol City to a battle"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224021030/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Poor-pitch-Bloomfield-Road-reduce-Blackpool/story-18266989-detail/story.html |date=24 December 2014 }} – Bristol Post, 27 February 2013 It was re-laid during the following close season,[http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/blackpool-fc/pitch-perfect-at-bloomfield-road-1-5848608 "Pitch perfect at Bloomfield Road"] – Blackpool Gazette, 12 July 2013 but in December 2014 it began to deteriorate again.[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/dec/20/blackpool-bournemouth-championship-match-report "Matt Ritchie has double fun as Bournemouth hit Blackpool for six"] – The Guardian, 20 December 2014 In February 2015, the Football League contacted the club, demanding an explanation for the current condition of the pitch.[http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/blackpool-fc/football-league-step-in-over-state-of-blackpool-s-pitch-1-7102720 "Football League step in over state of Blackpool’s pitch"] – Blackpool Gazette, 12 February 2015 The pitch was relaid during the summer of 2015.[http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/blackpool-fc/pitch-perfect-at-bloomfield-road-1-5848608 "Pitch perfect at Bloomfield Road"] - Blackpool Gazette, 12 July 2015

Former Scotland captain Barry Ferguson, who was Blackpool's caretaker-manager from January to May 2014, said of Oyston in 2020: "He's crazy, man. Six months before [his appointment], I fell out with him, and he made me go and train with the youth team at a 5-a-side park. And then, six months later, he offered me the job. That's how crazy he was. And sometimes he would come in and talk to you; other times, he'd just walk past you."[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4YlRqjyj90 "BARRY FERGUSON & SLANEY REUNITED! | Keeping the Ball on the Ground"] – Open Goal, YouTube, September 30, 2020

In April 2014, with Blackpool flirting with relegation to the third tier for the second consecutive season, Oyston called for the police to investigate death threats aimed at him and his family.{{cite web |title=Blackpool FC chairman Karl Oyston calls in police over 'death threats' |url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2014-04-25/blackpool-fc-chairman-karl-oyston-calls-in-police-over-death-threats/ |website=ITV News |access-date=13 October 2020 |date=25 April 2014}} Fans had begun protesting at games, calling for Oyston to leave the club after failing to provide the necessary funding for the club's infrastructure, despite the club having received an estimated £80 million cash windfall after their victory over Cardiff City at Wembley. To compound the ill-feeling, Oyston paid his father £11 million,[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2012/mar/06/blackpool-karl-oyston-players-wages "That £11m salary and why Blackpool refuse to inflate players' wages"] – The Guardian, 6 March 2012 distributed another £26 million around other Oyston-owned companies, and purchased land owned by the club behind the stadium for £650,000, which was then sold back to the club for £6.5 million after a lease for a Travelodge had been secured.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

The death threats came a few weeks after Oyston was photographed, by his son, standing in a mocking manner beside a mobile billboard that was parked on Bloomfield Road. It referred to the football club as "Oyston's cash cow". His son then posted the photograph on his Twitter account.{{cite web |title=Blackpool fans' anger over Oyston 'cash cow' tweet |url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2014-04-09/blackpool-fans-anger-over-oyston-cash-cow-tweet/ |website=ITV News |access-date=13 October 2020 |date=9 April 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Watt |first1=William |title=Oyston angers fans with ‘Cash Cow’ pose |url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/local/oyston-angers-fans-with-cash-cow-pose-1-6550168 |access-date=13 October 2020 |work=Blackpool Gazette |date=9 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225404/http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/local/oyston-angers-fans-with-cash-cow-pose-1-6550168 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 March 2016}}

On 24 July, in an open letter to both Oystons, club president Valeri Belokon demanded funds be put aside for player acquisitions.{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Luke |title=Blackpool FC fans furious as squad still has only eight players |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/blackpool/10992919/Blackpool-have-only-eight-players.html |access-date=13 October 2020 |work=The Telegraph |date=26 July 2014}}

Oyston's penchant for signing players via the loan market or on free transfers instead of paying transfer fees was highlighted during the 2014–15 season, before which 27 players had departed.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28194124 "Blackpool: From the Premier League to having eight players"] – BBC Sport, 14 July 2014

In July 2014, Channel 4 News aired an investigation into the club's finances. In it, forensic accountant John Frenkel states: "It has the appearance that the club is being run purely for the benefit of Mr Oyston”.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

In December 2014, after Blackpool, then bottom of The Championship, lost 6–1 at home to AFC Bournemouth, Oyston made headlines for allegedly calling one of the club's supporters, among other denigrations, a "retard" in a text message. The following day, the Blackpool Gazette decided to scrap Oyston's weekly column "given such disgusting and offensive comments". Oyston issued an apology later that day, via the club's website,[http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-2159971.aspx "Statement From Chairman Karl Oyston"] – Blackpool F.C.'s official website, 22 December 2014 but club president Valeri Belokon called for Oyston to quit on the back of the incident.[https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30589017 "Blackpool president Valeri Belokon wants Karl Oyston to resign"] – BBC Sport, 23 December 2014 Three months later, Oyston was charged with misconduct by the FA. His appeal against the FA ruling was rejected on 1 June,[http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/blackpool-fc/tribunal-rejects-oyston-s-appeal-1-7287483 "Tribunal rejects Oyston’s appeal"] - Blackpool Gazette, 1 June 2015 and he was banned from all footballing activities for six weeks and fined £40,000. In one of the texts, Oyston stated that he was on "a never-ending nightmare revenge mission", in response to the threats made against his family.{{cite news |last1=McGinlay |first1=Sean |title=Blackpool FC: the worst run club in British football left to rot |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/09/23/blackpool-fc-the-worst-run-club-in-british-football-left-to-rot/ |access-date=13 October 2020 |work=These Football Times |date=23 September 2017}}

The following month, the Oystons took legal action against 32-year-old Blackpool fan David Ragozzino for comments made against them on an internet forum.[https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30709703 "Blackpool: Owen and Karl Oyston begin legal action against fan"] – BBC Sport, 7 January 2015[http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/blackpool-fc/fan-gutted-as-oystons-sue-him-for-150-000-1-7039184 "Fan ‘gutted’ as Oystons sue him for £150,000"] – Blackpool Gazette, 8 January 2015 Ragozzino was given 21 days to respond to a claim for damages from the club.

A few days later, Owen Oyston issued an open letter to address claims made against him and his family.[http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/blackpool-fc/owen-oyston-s-open-letter-to-blackpool-fans-1-7041303 "Owen Oyston’s open letter to Blackpool fans"] – Blackpool Gazette, 9 January 2015

On 30 January 2015, another Blackpool fan, Stephen Sharpe, agreed to make a £5,000 donation to the club's Community Trust in lieu of damages and legal costs after posting defamatory messages about the Oystons on a website forum the previous year.[http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-2237743.aspx "Club Statement"] – Blackpool F.C.'s official website, 30 January 2015

The following day, prior to the game against Brighton at Bloomfield Road, and during a planned protest against the club's owners, a Land Rover with the number plate OY51 OUT was parked in the ground's car park. It was believed to be owned by Karl Oyston[https://twitter.com/WillWatt/status/561601568911659010 Blackpool Gazette's Will Watt's Twitter feed] and fans claimed that it was used to antagonise them further.{{cite news|last1=Wild|first1=Laura|title=Fans vow to keep fighting for BFC change|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/local/fans-vow-to-keep-fighting-for-bfc-change-1-7083831|newspaper=Blackpool Gazette|access-date=29 March 2015|date=2 February 2015}}

In early February 2015, the Oystons confirmed they were seeking another £150,000 in damages from Paul Crashley, the owner of the website Back Henry Street, over "six allegedly defamatory comments made in 2014".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/10/blackpool-karl-owen-oyston-libel-back-henry-street|title=Blackpool’s owners seek £150,000 in damages from supporters’ forum|date=10 February 2015|work=The Guardian}} This action was subsequently lost after it was struck out by the court in December 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/update-legal-action-against-online-blackpool-fans-forum-struck-out-1-8286974|title=Legal action against online Blackpool fans’ forum struck out|date=13 December 2016|work=Blackpool Gazette}}

On 24 March, the Tangerine Knights handed in an open letter to Owen Oyston calling for, amongst other things, his son to be relieved of his duties as club chairman and the Oyston family to sell the club.{{cite web|title=Fan group demands club's sale in open letter to Blackpool owner Oyston|url=http://www.itv.com/news/granada/2015-03-24/fan-group-demands-clubs-sale-in-open-letter-to-blackpool-owner-oyston/|publisher=ITV News|access-date=29 March 2015|date=24 March 2015}}

In April 2015, the Oystons sued a third fan for libelling them on Facebook. Frank Knight, a 67-year old retired businessman later apologised on his Facebook page: “I now regret making these allegations, I fully accept that they are false and I wish to sincerely apologise for them."[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-32348363 "Third Blackpool fan in libel apology to Oyston family"] – BBC Sport, 17 April 2015 After Knight had agreed to pay £20,000 damages, the television personalities Russell Brand and Rachel Riley led a public appeal, raising £20,915 to cover the damages.[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/blackpool-fans-raise-more-than-20000-for-frank-knight-after-pensioner-was-sued-by-club-chairman-karl-oyston-10189068.html "Football fans raise more than £20,000 for Blackpool fan Frank Knight after pensioner was sued by the Oyston family"] - The Independent, 20 April 2015 The club issued a statement shortly thereafter, warning of further legal action against people who, they claim, make false statements against them.[http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/local/blackpool-warn-of-further-fan-legal-action-1-7221205 "Blackpool warn of further fan legal action"] – Blackpool Gazette, 21 April 2015

In May 2016, Oyston won £30,000 in libel damages from Blackpool supporter Stephen Reed.[http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/our-region/blackpool/pool-chairman-wins-30-000-damages-after-abusive-fan-s-libellous-comments-1-7901630 "Pool chairman wins £30,000 damages after abusive fan’s libellous comments"] - Blackpool Gazette, 9 May 2016

In 2015, the Oystons also took action against Tim Fielding, the former chair of Blackpool Supporters Trust. Fielding resigned his position after the Oystons took exception to comments he made on fan websites and social media. He referred to the family as having "asset stripped" the club; as having "misappropriated football generated funds"; and as having made large personal profits by buying assets from the club at one price and then selling the same assets back to the club at a substantially increased price. "I now regret the allegations and unreservedly withdraw [them]."

On 6 November 2017, in a high court judgement, Karl and his father Owen Oyston was found to have operated an "illegitimate stripping" of Blackpool F.C., paying £26.77 million out of the club to companies they owned. They were ordered to pay £31 million for the share of the minority shareholder Valeri Belokon, who invested £4.5 million for a 20% stake in Blackpool in 2006 and challenged the legitimacy of the payment the Oystons made to their own companies in the high court. Following the judgement, on 10 November, the Oystons decided to put the club up for sale.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41944602 |title=Blackpool: Oyston family puts the League One club up for sale after 31-year ownership |date=10 November 2017|publisher=BBC }}

Blackpool had ten full-time managers under Karl Oyston's chairmanship. On average, he appointed a new manager every 1.6 years. Sacked were Colin Hendry, Paul Ince and José Riga; the other seven left of their own volition.

On 19 February 2011, Oyston married his partner, Victoria,{{Cite web|url=https://global.espn.com/football/blackpool/story/2868366/blackpool-chairman-karl-oyston-wins-libel-damages-from-abusive-fan|title=Blackpool's Oyston wins damages from fan|date=9 May 2016|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=27 March 2020}} at Christ Church in Over Wyresdale, near Lancaster. He has two sons.[http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/local/oyston-calls-in-police-over-fan-threats-1-6577197 "Oyston calls in police over fan 'threats'"] – Blackpool Gazette, 24 April 2014

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Category:Blackpool F.C. directors and chairmen

Category:English football chairmen and investors

Category:Living people

Category:1968 births