The Blackpool Supporters' Trust organized a boycott of Sunday's League Two playoff at Wembley, "and they stayed away in droves," according to Dan Zeqiri of the London TELEGRAPH. Blackpool "put a stop to six years of misery" by winning promotion to League One against Exeter City. Blackpool Manager Gary Bowyer said, "It is a shame, because it would have been great to have more here. The ones that were made a hell of a noise like they have done all season, the ones that have followed us home and away." The sight of Blackpool's players celebrating at full-time in front of a stand filled with empty seats "capped off a very odd situation" (TELEGRAPH, 5/28). In London, Ian Baker reported the lack of noise from Blackpool's supporters "was deafening." Fewer than 6,000 from Lancashire "witnessed an outstanding performance as most fans boycotted the occasion" in opposition to the running of the club by Chair Karl Oyston. Bowyer said, "What can be done? I can't answer it" (LONDON TIMES, 5/29). The BBC's James Law reported protests took place outside Bloomfield Road before Blackpool's final home game of the season against Leyton Orient. The club reportedly "took more than 30,000 fans to Wembley" in each of its previous two visits when it appeared in League Championship playoff finals (BBC, 5/28).
