'Pool Deny Bakiyev Link

Blackpool today moved to deny that the son of the former leader of Kyrgyzstan, Maxim Bakiyev - wanted in connection with corruption - is a part-owner of the club after several Eastern European reports suggested that he was.

The reports suggested that Mr Bakiyev is a business associate of Blackpool president Valery Belokon and that he, along with Mr Belokon had invested in the Seasiders.

However, the Seasiders dispelled such rumours with the following statement made by club secretary Matt Williams:

'He's not a shareholder of Blackpool Football Club and never has been.

'With regards to him being an associate of Mr Belokon, that's a question you'd have to ask him.'

And that's a question that Vital Blackpool wanted to ask Mr Belokon's man at Bloomfield Road, Normunds Malnacs just a few short weeks ago when the link to Bakiyev crept up again.

Despite initially agreeing to our request for an interview, Normunds was forced to pull the plug on it by either someone at Blackpool's end or at Mr Belokon's end, we're not sure which.

A statement was issued on Mr Belokon's behalf today though that denied that Bakiyev has any sort of role at BFC, but did not deny that he is a business associate of Mr Belokon's:

'Mr Bakiyev does not and has never had any relationship with Blackpool FC or VB Football Assets which is 100 per cent owned by Valery Belokon.'

Bakiyev is the son of ousted Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiyev. He was arrested on Sunday by UK Border Force officials after landing in Hampshire via a private jet.

He was a key figure in his father's government which was overthrown in April, and his home country have demanded his extradition after accusing him of stirring up ethnic violence in the south of the country as well as stealing millions from the government's bank accounts.

Let's hope that nothing shady ruins the Seasiders' promotion party...

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