Blackpool goalkeeper Joe Lewis forced to wear autographed shirt in match

Seasiders team-mate Andrea Orlandi revealed the stopper donned a jersey featuring a signature because the Sky Bet Championship side, whose demotion was confirmed the day before, did not have another top to give the Cardiff loanee.

Lewis picked up an ankle injury which ended his season in the 1-1 draw but Orlandi believes the incident is indicative of a season of struggle both on and off the pitch at Bloomfield Road.

Writing in his weekly column for Spanish website AM14.net, Orlandi said: "Before starting the game I noticed Joe Lewis' shirt. It was signed and I thought he was going to do a raffle after the game (something quite common in England).

"It turns out that, no, he had not even noticed or knew anything about it. When he tried to get another one he was told there were none left.

"It was funny because he tried to put a plaster over the writing to cover it and it looked even more funny.

"However, things like that - details without apparent importance - make a difference in a club.

"There are details that should be improved as a club. A small thing? Probably. But still not a usual thing for a Championship club."

Before that game against Reading, supporters had hurled eggs at the back of directors' boxes at Bloomfield Road, also tossing a flare, a smoke bomb and a firework into the cordoned-off area in front of the main reception as they protested against the club's owner Karl Oyston.

Lewis' signed shirt is not the first embarrassing gaffe committed by Blackpool this year.

Former boss Jose Riga revealed they had only nine eligible professional players on the morning of their opening fixture while ex-loanee Jacob Murphy was forced to apologise later in the year after a picture of him with the caption "We are going to lose...Again" leaked on social media.

Blackpool head to Derby on Tuesday night still needing one point to equal the lowest ever tally accrued by a second-tier side when there have been 24 clubs.