Owen Oyston to drop all legal action against Blackpool fans

Owen Oyston has committed to stopping all ongoing litigation with Blackpool supporters.
The news comes after Owen Oyston met with supporters on Tuesday nightThe news comes after Owen Oyston met with supporters on Tuesday night
The news comes after Owen Oyston met with supporters on Tuesday night

Oyston, the owner of Blackpool Football Club, came to the decision after holding meetings with a number of supporters on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Gazette understands Owen believes this, along with his recent sacking of his son Karl, will bring the fans back to Bloomfield Road.

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A group called Justice4Fans today released the following statement: "During the course of this week a series of one-to-one meetings have taken place between Owen Oyston and individual Blackpool fans who are still subject to litigation, have outstanding monies still due under settlements negotiated to conclude earlier litigation or were still under threat of being sued for their participation in the pitch protest at the Huddersfield match in 2015.

Andy Grice was among those to be involved in legal action with the OystonsAndy Grice was among those to be involved in legal action with the Oystons
Andy Grice was among those to be involved in legal action with the Oystons

"Following these meetings Owen has agreed that all ongoing litigation will be discontinued, that judgments obtained will either not be enforced or set aside and also that no further action will be taken against those in receipt of letters of claim.

"We have also been assured that the related claim that then club solicitor Graham Woodward brought against Andy Grice will also not be pursued any further.

"Whilst no restitution has yet been offered to those who have paid the club/the Community Trust settlement monies under threat of legal action, Justice4Fans see this a positive step towards bringing the unprecedented and highly destructive policy of pursuing fans through the courts to a conclusion.

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"Justice4Fans would like to thank Owen on behalf of the fans he met with for his hospitality during the various meetings and for recognising the importance of bringing these outstanding claims to a conclusion.

Andy Grice was among those to be involved in legal action with the OystonsAndy Grice was among those to be involved in legal action with the Oystons
Andy Grice was among those to be involved in legal action with the Oystons

"Our thanks are also extended to Les Golding for his assistance in arranging and attending the various meetings in his own time."

Last year, Pool fan Andy Grice told The Gazette he was facing bankruptcy after Graham Woodward, a solicitor at Blackpool Football Club. was awarded £18,000 in damages over an online post that falsely described him as ‘struck off’.

Mr Grice had already been awarded £20,000 in damages from Karl Oyston’s son Sam over defamatory tweets in May 2015.

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A number of fans were also threatened with legal action over their part in a protest dubbed 'Judgement Day' which forced the abandonment of the fixture against Huddersfield Town in 2015.

Others to face litigation include Frank Knight, a pensioner who was sued by the Oystons, and Stephen Smith.