on 9 july it was confirmed that, with still just eight players at the club, riga had three backroom staff, all of whom had agreed to start working the previous week but had still not signed contracts. two days later it was stated that tensions were high at the club, and between riga and karl oyston. on 17 july, having already cancelled a pre-season trip to spain to focus on signings, it was claimed that riga's future was even more uncertain following reports of a dispute with oyston over transfer policy. two days later blackpool played a friendly away against northern league division one side penrith, fielding five triallists in the starting line-up with two more on the substitutes bench and with just six fit registered players, the rest of the match day squad was made up of youth team players. riga was given a standing ovation by the blackpool fans. then after the match it was reported that when the media requested to speak with riga, he had told his staff and players not to give any interviews. having won only one of fifteen games in charge, riga was sacked by blackpool on 27 october 2014, becoming the club's second shortest-serving manager in their history, behind michael appleton.