Dear Member,
Following our earlier email we would first of all like to thank all members who came and contributed to this evenings meeting, as well as all those who sent their thoughts via email. We do appreciate the effort that has been gone to.
It has been decided over the course of tonight that we will be sending an open letter to Karl Oyston on the current managerial situation. This letter has tonight already been sent to the chairman and a copy is below.
We would also like to take this opportunity to say that we believe that on Saturday afternoon it is imperative that as fans we support the team during the match. The players need us to do our bit. We are aware that tensions and emotions are running high, but as supporters we have to do all we can to try and help the team beat Doncaster.
Up the 'Pool!
BSA
OPEN LETTER TO KARL OYSTON:
Dear Mr. Oyston,
Blackpool Supporters Association has, over the years, developed and been aided by a mutual pledge to work together with Blackpool Football Club and you, its chairman, to ensure the measured progress, stability and success, both financially and in football terms, that we all want.
Recent results and events mean that many supporters have lost confidence in the long-term future and ambition of the football club and we believe that it is imperative that measures are taken to ensure that the current slide is halted. At a meeting of our members on Monday 20th January a unanimous vote of no confidence was taken by the fans against Paul Ince and the continuation of his role as manager of Blackpool Football Club.
While final decisions are ultimately yours, made with a knowledge of the global picture which we do not possess, we would urge you to consider the following concerns in reference primarily to the current managerial position:
We believe that the position of the manager is untenable. Recent matches have brought about a points return of one point from a possible 27, plus an FA Cup defeat. There has been little evidence that this alarming run of results will be turned around in the near future.
The manager's style of play and tactics have led to growing disillusionment and hostility at our games which is unhealthy for players, the management team and supporters alike. Specific concerns have included a defensive mentality, the lack of flexibility of tactics even when we are losing, the poor disciplinary record, players who are not being utilised nor performing to their potential, an unwillingness to retain or play younger, creative players and the apparent absence of any long-term plan regarding player development.
The lack of signings during the January transfer window. To date, only one player has been signed, into a squad depleted by returning loanees as well as injury. Has the manager provided you with a list of targets to work on bringing in? If so, what is causing the delays in signing the required players in addition to the one player we have brought in?
The current manager has damaged the reputation of the club. Blackpool fans are proud of their club but feel that the behaviour of Paul Ince, specifically with the incident at Bournemouth, has let them and the club down and is not appropriate for a manager in such a privileged position.
Supporters have had little in the way of reassurances about the medium to long term plan of the team and the club. In the immediacy this concerns the performance of the team, and the targets of the league position. Despite a strong start, we are once more facing up to the prospect of a relegation battle; however, this is not where we as fans wish to be every season. We would all like to see the club progress and aspire to move up the league table and we do not believe Paul Ince is the man to do that.
The body language of the players appears to indicate to those of us watching from the stands that they are unhappy with their current manager. Perhaps even that they are unsure as to what they are being asked to do on the pitch. The manager has been known to publicly criticise his players, which causes us to question Paul Ince’s ability to motivate and lift his side to improve the situation.
The feeling that is most prevalent amongst Blackpool supporters is that Paul Ince, via his tactics, attitude and results has destroyed the morale of Blackpool fans up and down the country. We have received comments from fans in North America who are disheartened at our current plight. Blackpool’s season, and the short- to medium-term future of the club, is being put at risk by continuing down this path with the current manager . At the moment we are in freefall as a side, and time is of the essence to halt this slide.
Although the squad is small, there are good players within it. As fans we feel sorry that we are not performing to our potential, and a number of fans, young and old, have commented that they no longer feel like watching their team on Saturday afternoons. This, to us, is the saddest thing of all. As a supporters association we can only ask fans to support their team to the best of their abilities.
We would urge you, as chairman of the club, to take a long hard look at the current situation and ask yourself the question of whether Blackpool Football Club can move forward with Paul Ince in charge or whether a change of management as quickly as possible is the best move for all concerned. We, as supporters, are united in the belief that the latter is the only way, and that any new man must be provided with the financial support he needs in order to arrest this slide and move forward.
Blackpool Supporters Association
