Judge to put Owen Oyston's assets up for auction

Blackpool Football Club could have new owners in just a few months, as a judge is set to give the go-ahead for dozens of owner Owen Oyston's properties and companies, including the club, to go up for auction.

Among the properties set to go under the hammer is the majority of shares in the football club, the Bloomfield Road stadium, Squires Gate training ground and the Travelodge hotel.

It could mean the ownership of the football club could change hands, something fans have been campaigning for over a number of years.

It is the latest in an ongoing saga, in the High Court last November, the Oystons were ordered to pay Belokon £31.7 million after he was found to be 'illegitimately stripping' the club following promotion to the Premier League in 2010.

The club was put up for sale four days later, but no buyer has yet been found.

Christine Seddon, chairman of the Blackpool Supporters' Trust, said:

"He still owes somewhere in the region of £25 million. The judge took the decision to freeze Mr Oyston's assets and has basically put them in control of Valeri Belokon so that he can recoup the debt.

"For Blackpool fans, it's very frustrating because it just seems to drag on. The reality is that Mr Oyston owes Mr Belokon a lot of money that he just doesn't have. His assets are being auctions to free up the funds to pay Mr Belokon,

"The football club is included in that, so whether that will start a discussion to do a deal, or whether it means that financially Mr Oyston will be in such a position that he will have no other option than to relinquish control of the club, we don't know.

"What we do know is that this is an absolute game changer. We don't see any way Mr Oyston can continue to cling on to ownership of the club. For us as fans that can only be a good thing."