Championship: Statue of Blackpool legend Stan Mortensen disappears from outside Bloomfield Road

Football News 24/7

A statue of Blackpool legend Stan Mortensen has been removed from outside Bloomfield Road just days before fans planned to use it as a focal point for a protest against the club's owners.

The statue of 'Morty' has mysteriously disappeared without any explanation from the club, who have refused to comment on it's whereabouts.

Supporters groups have planned a mass protest on the final match of the season against Huddersfield to voice their opposition to the ownership of Owen Oyston and his son Karl.

The club have been relegated from the Championship after winning only four games this season, which they started with only eight senior players in their squad.

The statue had been earmarked as a focal point of the protests by the Blackpool Supporters Trust and the Tangerine Knights 

Speaking to the Blackpool Gazetter, Steve Smith, spokesperson for the Tangerine Knights said: “We met with the police on Monday and were told we couldn’t hold any form of demonstration on club land, including the area around the statue."

“We were told if we planned to lay any memorabilia around the statue there was a possibility Karl Oyston would take out a civil trespassing injunction before Saturday."

“That would in theory allow him to pick out named individuals who go near the statue through the civil courts."

“We feel the removal of the Mortensen statue is all too coincidental."

“I’m sure Blackpool fans will be making their own minds up until there is an official explanation from the club.”