Blackpool’s owner has had an unlucky first season in charge

Simon Sadler has endured some misfortune during his first year at the helm

Having invested heavily on the playing side in both transfer windows, Sadler had to fork out even more to lay off manager Simon Grayson in February.

Further cash was lost when Blackpool’s home games against Bolton Wanderers and Tranmere Rovers, fixtures that have attracted large gates on a weekend, were both moved to Tuesday nights.

Pool’s first game to be suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, the home clash against Sunderland, was also due to be a money-spinner with 4,300 away fans set to make the trip to Bloomfield Road.

All these problems have been compounded by the current lockdown of English football where, like all clubs up and down the land, the Seasiders have no matchday revenue to fall back on.

“Simon’s had a huge amount of bad luck,” former interim board member Tim Fielding told The Gazette.

“On a footballing basis, the coronavirus pandemic has got to be considered as bad news.

“I think a lot of the money from season ticket sales was spent during the interim board period, so how much of that was left for him I don’t know.

“When you have just invested in a new manager, you’ve had all these players brought in during the January transfer window, on a footballing level it must be extremely frustrating.

“But you have to set it against everything else that is going on.

“I’ve no idea how Simon is coping with this but he’s used to ‘surfing’ the markets, isn’t he? He’s used to making money in good times and bad.

“I’m just hoping he’s able to ride the storm of what we’re all dealing with and that he comes out the other end in a position where he can continue to provide support for Blackpool.”