Blackpool supporters stage dramatic walk out over club's ownership

Discontent overshadows Blackpool's first three points of the campaign

Samuel Stevens
Saturday 04 October 2014 13:49 BST
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Disgruntled Blackpool supporters staged a dramatic walk out during the victory over Cardiff City last night as their fractious relationship with the club's hierarchy continues to worsen.

Hundreds opted to evacuate Bloomfield Road in the 53rd minute - marking the FA Cup triumph of 1953 - as the Tangerines secured their first win of the season.

Ivorian striker Francois Zoko's 64th minute strike, almost as illuminating as the flares which were let off in protest over the club's ownership, lifted the crisis club off the bottom of the Championship table.

The Oyston family, who dispute the claims against them, have been accused of taking the profits of the 2010/11 Premier League campaign for their own means.

Since Ian Holloway's resignation, the Seasiders have crashed so dramatically that merely securing their second tier safety this season would be considered a coup.

Despite the impressive win over manager-less Cardiff, in front of the Sky Sports cameras, Jose Riga's men are still alarmingly submerged in the bottom three. Only Bolton are below them with five points from ten matches.

While their Belgian manager also appeared to aim a thinly-veiled jibe at Karl Oyston and the farcical situation concerning player recruitment, the supporters weren't afraid to openly oppose the club's board of directors.

Also releasing black balloons into the air and flashing the lights on their mobile phones, their discontent was clear for all to see.

Banners, many featuring the word 'thieves', weren't hard to miss either in front of a global television audience.

Riga preferred to focus on his team's performance after the match, telling reporters: "We forgot all that was happening around to concentrate, to be focused on our jobs and we deserved this win.

"I told the players to keep going and do your job and even with a reduced number of fans we could feel the atmosphere and we found the will and power to keep going until the end.

"I’m happy for our staff, I’m pleased for our players and of course the fans. I’m not here to make my publicity. I just tell the truth and I think that’s what they [the fans] appreciate," Riga added.

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