Trevor Sinclair: I'll join Blackpool fans on protest march

The former England international, who started his career with the Seasiders in 1989, is set to join the march through the town to Bloomfield Road on April 30, ahead of the final home game of the season against Wigan.

Organisers hope thousands will take part in the event being billed ‘Judgement Day 2’, a follow-up to the protests in May last year which ended with the match against Huddersfield being abandoned due to a pitch invasion.

Blackpool are facing back-to-back relegations and BBC football pundit Sinclair told The Gazette he wants to help the fans. “I will be joining the fans on the march,” he said.

“My part will be peaceful and I’ll be getting involved in nothing illegal, but I think it’s important we all get behind it and call for change.

“People need to know how much the community wants change at Blackpool FC and wants things to turn around.

“I’m fed up with what’s happened at the club in the last few years, so I think it’s important I voice my opinion. The club is a huge part of the community and it’s important something is done.

“I don’t want to see Blackpool slip away into non-league. We can’t let that happen.

“I can’t understand why there’s been so little investment in the football team. I don’t think there’s been enough.”

Blackpool Supporters’ Trust have called for chairman Karl Oyston to stand down and for his family to sell the club after years of turbulence.

Sinclair made more than 100 Pool appearances, moving on to QPR, West Ham and Manchester City, and winning 12 England caps.

While stopping short of calling for the Oystons to go, he said: “I want what’s best for the good of the club and that is change.

“Whether that is for the Oystons to leave and new owners to come in, or whether it is for them to dramatically change the way they run the club, who knows? What’s important is that what’s happening now doesn’t continue.

“Blackpool was my first club. I joined them at the age of 14 and made my debut at 16.

“Back then we had no money and a terrible stadium, but there was an unbelievable spirit around the club.

“With Billy Ayre as manager, it was a fantastic club to be around.

“All that seems to have gone now.”

The Wigan game is the only one of Pool’s four remaining League One fixtures at home and Sinclair thinks Neil McDonald’s men can yet avoid the drop, but only with fan support.

“I do think Blackpool can stay up but it’s going to take a massive effort,” he said.

“I hope the fans get behind the players in the next couple of games as it’s in no-one’s interest for the club to go down.

“All the off-the-field problems aren’t the players’ fault, so hopefully the fans will get behind them and help them. They really need it.”

Sinclair is living on the Fylde coast again after a spell in Dubai, and he has more than just a former player’s interest in the club’s future.

His children are involved with the club’s academy and Sinclair was a regular spectator at Bloomfield Road.

But he admits to staying away in recent months. “I actually have quite a few Saturdays off but I chose not to go to games,” he said.

“There’s just not a good feeling about the place. All the legacy which was created seems to have gone.

“My boys are in the club’s academy, so my interest in things improving at the club is a personal one.

“I really hope that things can change for the better soon.”