Blackpool F.C

[Jason]

SIMON Grayson will meet Karl Oyston in the next 48 hours for talks which are likely to decide if he gets the manager's job next season.
Grayson has admitted he would like to know what's going on before Saturday's final match of the season against Gillingham.

He meets Oyston at Bloomfield Road where the chairman will explain the situation and the plan for next season.
Grayson is on course to achieve the task he was given, which was to keep Blackpool in League One.

And because of that the manager admits he is hopeful that he will be handed a contract for next season.

However, Grayson is reluctant to take anything for granted because he knows the situation could be complicated by the imminent arrival of millionaire investor Valery Belokon.
The Latvian has made noises about taking over as chairman and therefore he would have the final say on who is the manager.

And that's why Grayson cannot be sure whether or not he will get the job – though he'd like to know as soon as possible so he can kickstart his plans for next season.

[Jason]

http://www2.blackpooltoday.co.uk/poty

Fill in the form and let them know who you think the Blackpool player of the year is!

You could win a signed shirt or signed football!

[thebat]

Went down to the game today thought iwas a good game plenty of goals 6 to be exact in a highly entertaining 3-3 draw, a few over zelous fans at the end halted the game whilst they decided to have a pitch invasion with about 5 min to go hope the club dont get fined for it but hey hopefully things will be better next season and we may end up in the top half maybe even the play offs

[Jason]

I believe there was 8,000 on and it was £1 to get on is that correct?
Well done to the seasiders and i hope it's better next season for them!!

[Jason]

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson will attempt to bolster his squad during the close-season after safeguarding the club's League One status.Grayson took charge of the Seasiders following the acrimonious departure of Colin Hendry at Christmas.

And the club's owners, including Latvian millionaire Valery Belekon, have pledged their faith in Grayson's talent.

The 36-year-old is set to sign a new contract this week and his first task will be to sort out the 15 players whose contracts are due to expire in the summer.

"That will be my most difficult job so far," said Grayson. "I've been sitting in the dressing room as a player alongside these lads just a few weeks ago and now I may have to sort out whether or not they have jobs to come back to."

[Jason]

Blackpool goalkeeper Lee Jones is hoping to inspire the club to a better season next year - provided he is still at Bloomfield Road.The veteran shot-stopper is out of contract this summer, but is hopeful the club will take up the option to extend his existing deal for another year.

Jones held the number one jersey for the second half of the season and ended the campaign strongly as the Seasiders survived relegation.

He said: "The club have got an option on another year on me and hopefully they take that up.

"I'm hoping I get a new deal, and hopefully the trophies I picked up will help because people obviously thought I did well when I got into the side after coming back from injury.

"If I'm still here next season we will hope to get off to a better start and get a few points on the board."

[Jason]

FIVE-time player of the year winner Lee Jones won't be guaranteed a starting place next season.
That's the no-nonsense message from Simon Grayson who has insisted that no member of the Seasiders squad will have a God-given right to walk into the starting line-up when the new campaign kicks off.
And with Grayson in hot pursuit of Swindon number one Rhys Evans – who, coincidentally, also won five player of the year trophies at the Robins' end-of-season awards ceremony – it means even Jones has to watch his back.
"When we report back after the break everyone will be on a level playing field," emphasised Pool's manager, who has offered Evans a contract and is waiting for an answer.
"It will be all down to how they do in pre-season training and who impresses myself and the coaching staff.
"Some players have had very good seasons but in this game what has happened in the past doesn't really matter.
"In football you are only as good as your last game and so whoever performs best in pre-season is likely to be in the starting line-up for the first league match of the new campaign.
"I'm delighted Lee Jones is staying for another year because he has had a very successful season for us.
"He won awards at the player of the year do and he deserved to get another 12 months with us.
"But because we've let Les Pogliacomi go, we do need someone else to try and push Jonesy again. We've got Lewis Edge as well, but I want another keeper to keep everyone on their toes."
Evans, a former England under-21 international and Swindon's number one for the last three years, has held talks with Grayson, been offered a deal and is expected to make a decision about his future in the next week.
But the keeper, who was born and bred in Swindon and has family in the area, admits he is still not sure what his next move will be.
Evans said: "I went to meet Simon Grayson and Tony Parkes and they looked after me very well.
"They talked about the future and made it clear that they want me to be part of it.
"They have offered me a contract and obviously I now have to think about it. I stayed with Peter Clarke while I was up there and it was good to talk to him and get his views on the club.
Plunge
"We have represented England at various levels together and our respective families have remained in touch ever since so we're good friends."
That could persuade Evans to take the plunge and move to Blackpool, especially as Swindon have been relegated to League Two.
(blackpooltoday)

[Jason]

Paul Tierney believes he's the man to solve the Seasiders' left-back problems once and for all.

The 23-year-old defender got his first glimpse of Bloomfield Road yesterday, when he arrived to sign his two-year contract, which contains the option of a further 12 months.
"The only other time I've been to Blackpool is to go on The Big One," admitted the new arrival, who has joined Pool on a free transfer from Scottish club Livingston.

The former Manchester United player added: "The ground looks good, the pitch has been reseeded and should be in decent shape for the new season, and I can't wait to get started."
More importantly, Tierney is a left-back - a jinxed position for Pool over the last couple of years.

Last season 13 different players occupied the role.

"I've heard about that," said Tierney, whose older brother Mark plays for Oldham.
"While I was signing my contract the kitman was reeling off all the players who played that position last year.
"I couldn't believe it - but hopefully I'll be the one who can finally fill the position for the club.

"I'm a full-back who likes to get forward when the opportunity arises, but my first concern is to do my job at the back and defend properly.
"I get stuck in and don't shirk tackles, and with a bit of luck I will do a good job for the club."

Livingston are being forced to offload players to cut their wage bill following relegation from the Scottish Premier League last season.
Tierney said: "It was a strange year because when I signed last summer they hardly had any players. A new manager had just come in and the team was being totally rebuilt.

"But we didn't start our pre-season until a month before the season actually began ... which isn't ideal when you've got Rangers first game!
"It didn't really work out for us all year, but despite a lack of results and finishing bottom I enjoyed it because it was a great experience.

"I played in front of crowds of 50,000-plus at Ibrox and Celtic Park, and it's something I have learned from and can use to my benefit now I'm back in English football."
Tierney says he is delighted to be returning to his roots in the North West. His parents live in the Prestwich area of Manchester.
The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international started his career at Manchester United, meaning that he knows some members of the Seasiders squad already.

"I joined United when I was 13 and I was in the same age group as Neil Wood, so we played together for about 10 years," he explained.
"I also know David Fox well. He is a year younger than me but we played together in the reserves a lot.
"It was a good grounding at United, and while I was there I had loan spells at Crewe, Colchester and Bradford, so I know what lower league football is all about.

"It's good to be back in the North West, where my family and friends are.
"I'm going to get a house down here, settle down and give my all for Blackpool.
"It's a fresh start for me now and I'm really looking to get my career going."
He may no longer be a United player but Tierney will always remain a fan.
He says his heroes are fellow left-footers Ryan Giggs and Lee Sharpe.
And if he turns out to be even half as good as either, Pool fans won't be disappointed in the new man.
Tierney becomes manager Simon Grayson's second summer signing following Swindon goalkeeper Rhys Evans

[soniceffect]

I`m followin england LOL .. don`t much follow local football, but once every 4 years .. that`ll do me

[Jason]

Grayson's twin targets
SIMON Grayson will use the next 10 days before the season starts to try to buy a goalscorer and a midfielder.
The Seasiders boss revealed he has enough left in his transfer kitty to make more signings and he is considering splashing out part of that cash.
But the manager's main problem is that his preferred targets are so far proving elusive.
"It's not that finances aren't there, it's just availability," said Grayson after watching his side suffer their first defeat of the pre-season with a 1-0 reverse at Accrington Stanley.
"Premiership clubs are keeping hold of their players ahead of the season, Championship clubs are still deciding what they are going to do with their players.
"So the phone calls and the work going in to get players in hasn't stopped but sometimes circumstances don't allow you to get who you want and that's what is happening at the moment.
"Can I go out and spend £250,000 on a player? I suppose I could go and buy a player but it certainly wouldn't be for that sort of money because there isn't that sort of investment available.
"We have increased the quality of the squad by increasing the wage structure from what it was and we've brought in a few quality players.
"I could possibly spend a little bit of money because I've still got a little bit of my budget to go.
"Whether I spend it on transfer fee with low wages, or free transfers with high wages we'll have to wait and see. But it is hard getting people in because everybody wants the same sort of players.
"All the other clubs are after the same as I am – strikers who can score 20 goals and a midfield player who can score goals.
"So it's frustrating but you have to keep putting the calls in."
Despite the manager's current lack of luck in the transfer market, he remains confident that summer acquisitions like Rhys Evans, Adrian Forbes and Wes Hoolahan have improved the standard of his squad.
"Is the squad stronger than it was 12 months ago? That's for other people to judge. I'm confident it is but time will tell," said the manager.
"I think we've improved on last year and I'm confident that we won't be relegation candidates. But if we are seriously looking at top six or higher then a couple of other players from higher divisions would be necessary."
Meanwhile Rhys Evans, who has missed the last two games with a groin strain, WILL be fit for the start of the season.
That was the reassurance from Simon Grayson, who said the keeper will probably start against Livingston tomorrow.
"Rhys's situation is not a worry," the boss insisted. "It's just a precaution that he hasn't played the last two games.
"He came off last Saturday at Lancaster with a slight groin strain but I think he'll be OK. I'm expecting him to train today and probably play tomorrow."
Grayson said striker Matthew Blinkhorn, also missing from the last two games with a sore groin, is due back in training tomorrow.

[Jason]

Barker delay is 'real bad news' for Pool

SHAUN Barker's dispute with Rotherham, which has thrown his move to Blackpool into doubt, is "bad news".
So says Pool boss Simon Grayson who had been hoping to name Barker in the starting 11 for the Seasiders League One curtain-raiser at Brentford.
Barker is locked in a contract dispute with his club Rotherham and a tribunal on Tuesday, which was supposed to resolve the situation and allow him to move to Pool, has been put back to August 25.
In the meantime Barker cannot play for another club.
"It's unfortunate and a bit of bad news, not just for us but for the lad himself," admitted Grayson.
"He's worked hard pre-season and he's trained with us for the last 10 days or so and all he wants to do is play games and be involved on August 5.
"But we can't run the risk of playing him because he isn't our player.
"I think the lad just wanted it sorted, whatever the decision – whether he comes to us on a free or whether he has to go back to Rotherham.
"Whatever the decision, it needs to be done quickly because it is frustrating for the lad.
"He wants to know where he will be at and he wants to know what team he is going to be involved in. The longer it goes on, the more he loses out on match fitness.
"Does it make me want to go and sign another centre half in case we don't get him? Well we're not too bad at the moment.


"We've got Peter Clarke coming back from injury and Michael Jackson and Marc Joseph so that department is OK.
"I'm not going to bring someone in just for the sake of it while the Shaun Barker situation is still running.
"Hopefully it will be resolved as quickly as possibly and then we'll know where we're at.
"He's the one that I would rather have in so we'll have to just wait and see how it goes."
Meanwhile Grayson described last night's defeat at Accrington Stanley as "OK" but nothing more.
After selecting a team largely made up of trialists and youngsters, Grayson saw his team lose to a 68th minute Jay Harris strike.
"The major thing is that a lot of players have another 90 minutes under their belts," said the manager.
"We didn't have our strongest team out and a lot of the lads were resting, either watching the game here or at home because they played on Monday night.
"The majority of those will now play 90 minutes against Livingston.
"It is disappointing to lose at Accrington but considering the team it was an OK performance on a difficult pitch and I was impressed with one or two of the younger lads.
"I thought Matt Lawlor did ever so well and Kyle Clancy, when he came on as a sub, was great in his first appearance with the first team."
On the three trialists who featured – strikers Tom Cahill and Nick Linford plus a mystery centre back – Grayson added: "It's obviously difficult when trialists come in because they've never met the other lads before. It's hard for them but they did OK and we'll have a look at them a little more in training over the next few days and then make a decision on them.
"Games like this are about seeing what people can do. You might stumble on one or two trialists who make an impression.
"It doesn't cost you anything to look at these players, so you take a look."
n A GROUP of Seasiders supporters are arranging a five-a-side tournament for fellow Blackpool fans to celebrate the start of the new season.
The Tangerine Tournament 2006 takes place on Saturday on the astroturf at Stanley Park, starting at noon.
Eight teams in two leagues of four will compete for a trophy.
It's £25 to enter a team and the organisers need two more teams. Anyone interested email: tangerinetournament@hotmail.com
All money raised will be donated to Blackpool's school of excellence.

[Jason]

THE Seasiders made it six seasons without an opening day win after going down 1-0 at Brentford.
Simon Grayson's men lost the game in the last half hour as they wilted in the heat, conceding sloppily in the 74th minute when Oli Skulason bundled the ball in from close range.
That proved to be the decisive goal though the Seasiders can consider themselves unlucky.

Keith Southern hit the inside of the post with a header and Scott Vernon missed a one-on-one chance. Then after the break the busy Adrian Forbes bought a terrific stop from debutant goalkeeper Clarke Masters.
The 19-year-old, starting his first Football League match, was named man of the match - which gives some idea of Pool's early domination.

But a failure to put the ball in the net ultimately cost the Tangerines dear and it's back to the drawing board ahead of Tuesday's home clash with Nottingham Forest.

[Jason]

SIMON Grayson is hoping the stay-away fans to return to Bloomfield Road tonight and cheer the Seasiders to their first victory of the season.
Grayson is well aware that attendances have dipped in recent years but with Valery Belokon's arrival he believes it's the start of a new era – and reckons that will be enough to tempt some supporters back.
If they do return, they couldn't pick a better game. Tonight's visitors Nottingham Forest are the biggest side in League One, not that Grayson – eager for a win after Saturday's opening day setback at Brentford – is too concerned by reputations.
"They have the tradition with them winning the European Cup, their support is great and they are a massive club ... but that won't count for much tonight," he said.
"If we want to be a force in this division then we have to give these teams a good game and try and win, and I think we can do.
Knocks
"Hopefully some fans who've not been for a while will come back and support us.
"If we turn it on and get a win then hopefully we can keep them coming back on a regular basis, whether it's Forest we're playing or Rotherham.
"We need to get them back and the one way we can do that is by playing well and winning."
Marcus Bean (knee) is out tonight and several players – most notably Shaun Barker (born in Nottingham), Keigan Parker and Paul Tierney – have knocks. Grayson will give them until kick-off to recover.
Whatever the personnel, the manager is confident – though he's quick to stress that defeat won't be a disaster.
"Every manager will tell you they want to get points on the board as quickly as possible but I am not going to be panicking if we haven't got any points on the board after two games," he said.
"That would be just ridiculous and I'd stress that to everybody. It's only two games in.
"We might go three or four games without a win, who knows? Obviously the longer it goes the pressure will develop but at this point I'm not worried in the slightest because, if we play as we did at Brentford in our next few matches, then I know we'll be fine."
Grayson confirmed he will stick by keeper Rhys Evans, despite the new number one's mistake in the run-up to Brentford's goal on Saturday.
"I have had a look at it on the video and it was a strong challenge by their centre forward, which I am a little bit surprised the referee didn't award a free-kick for," added Grayson
"Rhys went to punch it and unfortunately the ball has just gone up in the air and it fell to one of their players.
"It was a disappointing goal to concede but it wasn't a clanger by any stretch of the imagination.
"The fact that a free-kick wasn't awarded just summed up our luck on the day."
Kick-off tonight is 7.45pm and the match is not all-ticket for home supporters.
n SVEIKS Valery – 'hello Valery' to me and you, although Mr Belokon won't be the only Latvian to welcome at tonight's clash with Forest.
The Pool president has invited 60 guests from his homeland – and manager Grayson is hoping to make their journey worthwhile.
"I don't think I'll have time to meet them all," joked Grayson, "but obviously it's a big thing for Mr Belokon.
"It's his first home match as president and it is something he is very proud of.
"He's bringing a lot of friends and contacts in Latvia to show them what Blackpool is like.
"He's got a stake in this club and he wants to show it off and hopefully we can reward him and his guests with a win."
The will be given a tour of Bloomfield Road and a pre-match meal.
Then they are planning to head into Blackpool to sample the nightlife.
There could be a few sore heads among the party on the plane back to Riga tomorrow morning.
MATTHEW Blinkhorn (groin) and Simon Wiles (knee) are four to six weeks away from returning to training.

[Jason]

Another defeat for The Seasiders on Tuesday night.
They went down 2-0 to Notts Forest.

[Jason]

BLACKPOOL'S disastrous start to the season continued yesterday with a disappointing defeat at the hands of relegation favourites Rotherham.
Will Hoskins' 81st minute close range strike ensured the points went back to Yorkshire.
But it was the manner of the defeat which was most worrying.
Simon Grayson's side carried little threat in attack and were embarrassingly bad during a terrible first half performance.
Danny Graham, given a start ahead of the axed Keigan Parker, came closest to scoring for Pool but his 76th minute shot, after he'd been sent clear by substitute Wes Hoolahan, was blocked by keeper Neil Cutler.
It was a particularly hard defeat to take for the fans - who booed the team off - as Rotherham are almost certainties to go down, having been handed a 10 point deduction by the FA for going into administration.

[thebat]

we did it first win of the season a good 4-2 win although they came back twice but we showed good heart for the first time this season come on the boys

[MrG5000]

well done to the blackpool f.c

[Jason]

Well done to the seasiders.
I'll post Grayson's views later.

[Jason]

THE Seasiders are deciding whether to sign a Russian international midfielder after watching him in a behind closed doors friendly at Bloomfield Road.
Vladimir But played in a match which featured several other trialists as well as Pool players who needed 90 minutes under their belt, such as Marc Joseph, Ciaran Donnelly and Jamie Burns.
Described as a goalscoring midfielder, But won the treble with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, including the European Champions League.
Now at Russian Premier League side Shinnik Jaroslavl, the 29-year-old is looking for a move to England and had been recommended to Blackpool.
However, The Gazette understands a deal is far from a certainty and the club intend to watch him again before making a decision on whether to offer him a contract.
The deal could also fall down if the Seasiders can't match But's wage demands.
Meanwhile Grayson is also working towards securing a deal to keep Southampton midfielder Simon Gillett at Bloomfield Road until January, but he could be thwarted because of an outbreak of injuries at the south coast club.
Gillett, 20, has signed a one-month loan deal but following some good displays Grayson is keen to keep him for longer.
However, the Pool boss said: "We thought over the weekend the deal was going to be done, that he was going to be able to stay until January.
"Then on Monday Southampton told us they had a few injuries and they didn't want us to play him in the Carling Cup game. They said they would assess the situation before the deadline next week.
"So as it stands there are no guarantees that he'll be staying but we are hopeful that Southampton can get some injured lads back and we can keep Simon because he will be another good addition to the squad.
"He has done well and I'd like to keep him here for a while longer and the lad himself wants to stay.
"He was gutted that he couldn't play against Barnsley.
"I had given him the opportunity to go back to Southampton for a couple of days to pick some gear up, but he walked in the dressing room at 6.30pm on Tuesday with the rest of the players, which says a lot about him."
Fatigue
Grayson still has bids in for Ben Burgess, Danny Carlton and an unnamed Championship midfielder. He is waiting for a firm answer on all three, but there has been little progress in the last 24 hours.
He is also still monitoring Claus Jorgensen at Coventry.
But the manager's main priority is to make sure his existing squad members recharge their batteries in time for Saturday's league match with Gillingham.
After playing 120 minutes of gruelling football on Tuesday, Grayson is concerned that fatigue might play a factor in his side's attempt to bag their home victory of the season.
"It's going to be a big ask of the players now on Saturday after playing extra time," he said. "But they have to recharge their batteries and be ready to go again.
"I said to the players after the game that if we produce 50 to 70 per cent of the Barnsley performance against Gillingham – and everyone else for that matter – we will be at the top end of the table rather than the bottom.
"Confidence is very high now but if we don't show the desire and hunger that we showed against Barnsley then there's every chance we'll get beaten again by Gillingham.
"But at the moment that's not a concern because the lads were fantastic on Tuesday and I just hope that we get the breaks in the next few weeks and get up the table because we deserve it."

[Jason]

POOL failed to chalk up their first home victory of the season, having to settle for a 1-1 draw against Gillingham.
And Simon Grayson's men will be disappointed because they dominated for long periods, especially in the second half when the visitors were hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
Pool conceded a shocking goal after just three minutes. The defence failed to clear a ball played into the penalty area and Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu poked the ball in from six yards.
The away side missed another fine chance four minutes later but after rounding keeper Rhys Evans Matt Jarvis couldn't hit the target from a narrow angle.

Pool eventually burst into life on 34 minutes when Scott Vernon headed in Wes Hoolahan's cross, his fourth goal in three games.
But despite a huge number of chances after the break - the best missed by Andy Morell after he was put through on goal - Pool couldn't find a winner.
And the Seasiders almost paid the price, indebted to a late save by Evans, who blocked a point blank range shot from Jarvis with his legs to prevent Ronnie Jepson's side grabbing a winner.