Vassell toasts Blackpool boss Bowyer

Blackpool forward Kyle Vassell hailed boss Gary Bowyer for engineering the Seasiders' return to League One.
Kyle VassellKyle Vassell
Kyle Vassell

he 24-year-old was brought to the club by Bowyer just days after the former Blackburn Rovers boss took charge last June and credits the manager for his performances over the course of the season.

Eleven of Vassell’s 13 goals came before the turn of the year and, despite admitting he has not had the greatest end to the season on a personal note, the former Shrewsbury Town and Peterborough United striker focused on the Seasiders’ collective achievement in winning promotion.

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“Personally he has got the best out of me,” Vassell said about Bowyer.

“It is my best season so far; I started the season well, didn’t have a great end of the season, but – at the end of the day – it is not about me, it is about the team.

“Credit to the gaffer for signing the players he did we went out there and gave everything we have got – I can’t even walk! We will enjoy it and enjoy the celebrations, I’m delighted for the club.

“It feels absolutely phenomenal. It has been a tough season and that is our just rewards.”

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Goals from Brad Potts and Mark Cullen either side of David Wheeler’s leveller clinched an immediate promotion back to the third tier.

Vassell believed a tactical shift from Bowyer after they lost skipper Tom Aldred just before the break was key to the victory.

He also hailed the squad’s mentality, dubbing the class of 2016/17 the best squad in League Two as they now join Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth and Doncaster Rovers in League One.

He said: “Sunday was tactics from our point of view, the diagonal from the left side to the right side was the problem.

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“The gaffer told me, second half, to stand on the left-sided centre half or left-back and I’ve just done that and it worked.

“Tom was a big loss – Tom has been a focal point for us – but we have got great a great squad.

“We have got the best squad in the league, we knew that it didn’t matter.”