The Tangerines are smiling

Whereas Roland Duchatelet can be found guilty of mass incompetence, utterly poor management and sheer stubbornness he has, as far as I know, has never illegitimately asset stripped the club. The Oyston family are a different matter though and after Monday’s high court ruling that ordered Owen and Karl Oyston to pay £31m to the minority shareholder, Valeri Belokon.

Today comes the news that Blackpool have been put up for sale by the Oyston’s for an undetermined amount. In even better news both Blackpool Football Club Ltd and Blackpool Football Club Properties Ltd, which owns their Bloomfield Road stadium are to be sold. Great news for Blackpool fans who are on the road to getting their football club back.

The Tangerines host Portsmouth tomorrow in what will be a party atmosphere. Believe it or not the EFL had picked a referee named Ben Toner for the game, but unfortunately he has been replaced. Got to love the EFL’s sense of humour.

It was with great relief to those of us that like a laugh that Katrien Meire found her tongue this week. Published 6 weeks ago in the Belgian sports magazine Knack, Meire once again plays the victim very well. I won’t dissect it here, but in a speedy riposte Knack agreed to publish a response from CAST, written superbly by Addick Heather McKinlay. You can read that here.

Another day of a lot of heads banging on desks at Pitch PR and head of communications man Tom Rubashow.

1,307 people watch a Charlton side lose to Portsmouth in the Checkatrade Trophy in the week so we finished 2nd in Group A of the Southern section and tonight were drawn away at Swansea U21’s. That’s a nice long journey on a Tuesday night.

Earlier today a strong Charlton team drew 2-2 in a behind-closed-doors friendly with QPR. Trialist Leon Best and Joe Dodoo scored, and the Rangers team included Jordan Cousins.

Lewis Page didn’t play as he has suffered another injury set-back. He’s not had much luck that boy.

Finally what a nice, well grounded boy Joe Gomez is. I find it hard to think of three better youth products. One may have been Diego Poyet, but just shows how things can change between the ages of 13 and 17. Poyet is now playing in Paphos, Cyprus.