Frank Knight apologises on Facebook for allegations against Oyston familyApology for ‘harm, distress and financial losses my comments have caused’Blackpool fans start fundraising campaign to help Knight raise required sum

Blackpool fans have rallied around a pensioner who has agreed to pay £20,000 in damages to the club after being threatened with court action over allegations he made on Facebook about the Oyston family.

Frank Knight, 67, posted comments on the website last year regarding Blackpool’s chairman, Karl Oyston, and the club’s owner, Owen Oyston. Following discussions with the Oystons, Knight has issued an apology and agreed to pay the five-figure sum in order to avoid taking the matter to court.

On his Facebook page, Knight said: “I now regret making these allegations, I fully accept that they are false and I wish to sincerely apologise for them and also for the harm, distress and financial losses my comments have caused both BFC and the Oystons and I wish to unreservedly withdraw them.

“I accept that my publication of the allegations on Facebook and in a manner which is readily accessible to users constitutes a very serious libel. It has injured the reputation of the Oystons and has caused them considerable embarrassment and distress.

“After a frank discussion with the Oystons, I acknowledge that they are both genuine fans of BFC and they and their families have only the best interests of BFC at heart. I recognise that BFC is now in a significantly healthier situation than when the Oyston family first became involved in it.” Blackpool declined to comment.

Blackpool fans protest against chairman Karl Oyston before Reading match Read more

In response, fellow fans have begun a fundraising campaign for Knight on the Gofundme website. It reads: “Frank has followed Blackpool over 40 years and has apologised for his passionate online rant, witnessed by all 34 of his online friends on Facebook, and fully retracted his statements.

“Despite this the Oyston family, worth over £100m, will be claiming £20,000 from Mr Knight. A lot of money for anyone, especially a 67-year-old, retired OAP.

“It would be great if football fans worldwide could help the common fan pay off his debt to the Oyston’s for being guilty of caring passionately about his football club and having serious concerns on how it’s run.”

Blackpool, who are a distant bottom of the Championship, were relegated to League One this week and before Tuesday’s game with Reading Tangerines fans protested against the owners, pelting the directors’ box with eggs, fireworks and a flare.

The Oystons have threatened several fans with libel action over comments posted online. In February, Blackpool’s owners launched a libel case against the supporters’ forum Back Henry Street over six allegedly derogatory messages made about the pair, while another supporter, David Ragozzino, was given three weeks to respond to a claim for £150,000 damages from the club over a post made on another website, Another View From the Tower.