BLACKPOOL FC's players have been told to wear boots supplied by the official boot sponsor if they want them supplied by the club.

The players reacted angrily to the club's decision to not supply them with their much-needed footwear after it lost official boot sponsor Lotto.

Managing director Gill Bridge has hit back at their complaints, stating the reason players weren't supplied boots already this season is that the sponsor had been lost through their own actions.

Last season's sponsor Lotto retracted its deal after many players used the boots supplied in part-exchange for different brands.

She said: "The latest position is that the club is very disappointed at losing a good sponsor, despite the fact that we warned the players about it happening if they didn't wear the boots.

"A number of potential sponsors have come forward for this season and I have met with one of them.

"Obviously, the next thing is to meet with the players to see if they'll wear the new boots and honour the deal."

To demonstrate their annoyance at the club's decision, players called a strike on all personal appearances away from the pitch, turning up at the club's open day for the minimum 15 minutes.

Players were unavailable for comment.

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