Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston has claimed that the decision to sack head coach Jose Riga is one that will boost the club's chances of staying in the Championship.

The Seasiders lie five points adrift at the bottom of the table after winning just one of their 14 league games so far, which prompted Oyston to dismiss the Belgian on Monday.

Oyston believes that it was a decision that he had to take.

"This decision is to give us the best possible chance of surviving in the Championship, the change was necessary," he told the Blackpool Gazette.

"We have to turn things around and give someone the chance to bring some fresh players in and brighten things up. We have left it as long as we possibly could, things just weren't improving.

"It was something we had to do."

Lee Clark, who recently lost his job at Birmingham City, is reportedly in the frame to replace Riga.