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Football fans rejoice as daily delivers front page they ‘waited years for’

A regional daily delivered a front page football fans on its patch had “waited years” for after a High Court ruling against the owner of the club they support.

The Gazette, Blackpool, splashed yesterday on the order that Blackpool FC be placed into receivership, meaning present owner Owen Oyston will have lost control of the club.

Blackpool supporters have been at loggerheads with Mr Oyston and his family for a number of years over a perceived lack of investment, with many boycotting matches in protest, while Gazette journalists have also found themselves barred from more than one club event in recent times.

The newspaper ran with the headline ‘Goin’ Oyston’ on yesterday’s front page, along with an image of Mr Oyston’s trademark big hat, to mark the occasion.

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Gazette news editor Paul Berentzen told HTFP: “This was the day many long-suffering Blackpool fans have waited years for so we knew we had to do it justice on the front page.

“Credit to the hard work of Blackpool FC writer Matt Scrafton for keeping the fans updated online and Andy Williams for bringing it to life in print with an eye-catching splash.

“The reaction we’ve had so far has been really positive – one fan even said they were going to frame the front page.

“It’s a major moment for the club and we’ll continue to follow developments closely and get answers for supporters about what happens next.”

The High Court ruling came about after a dispute between Mr Oyston and former Blackpool director Valeri Belokon, who successfully sued Mr Oyston and his son Karl, previously Blackpool’s former chief executive, in 2017 after discovering that they had “asset-stripped” the club.

Mr Belokon was awarded more than £31m, but is still owed £25m following his claim.

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