Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston believes in a robust approach when responding to criticism. It is this robust approach which has landed him with a six week ban from all football related activity.
Oyston was narky after his mobile number was posted on social media at the end of last year. As a result of this, he was contacted by Blackpool fan, Steve Smith.
Smith was unimpressed with Oyston's stewardship of the club and was determined to tell him so. Nonetheless, their correspondence via text began in a conciliatory enough fashion.
It quickly degenerated with Mr. Smith, who later presented the contents of the exchange to the newspapers, giving as good as he got in the expletive department. The pair argued bitterly over both the state of club and the extent of Oyston's contribution to their deepening malaise.
At one stage, Oyston did express sympathy for Smith, saying 'Sorry your life is so shit. But that's your fault not mine'.
He then urged Mr. Smith to 'enjoy the rest of your special needs day out'.
After a few more texts, Oyston asserted he could hardly have failed to remember an individual such as Mr. Smith.
Are you sure we’ve met? I would have remembered such a massive retard.
This did not prove to be Oyston's final use of the word 'retard' in the conversation. He also dubbed adversary an 'intellectual cripple'.
The exchange was shown to Blackpool Gazette (who swiftly suspended Oyston's column) late last year and now, months later, his punishment is in.
He did apologise shortly afterwards but did so without giving any ground to his critics, merely regretting that he had 'stooped to the level of those threatening and abusing my family'.
He also appealed the charge on the grounds that the offending conversation was a private one. However, the FA tribunal gave that idea short shrift and rejected it last month.
He has received the Dave Whelan punishment - a six week ban from all football related activity. He is not allowed in the vicinity of Bloomfield Road between two hours before a game and two hours afterwards.
He will, however, miss very few League games. The ban kicks off on July 8 and ends on August 18.
Blackpool were relegated at the end of last season, finishing dead last in the Championship.
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