Blackpool boss acknowledges players will have to leave Bloomfield Road

Neil Critchley has conceded it’s inevitable players will depart if Blackpool are going to bolster their squad.
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The Seasiders have 22 senior players on their books, the maximum allowed under new EFL guidelines, after Adi Yussuf’s loan move to Wrexham.

The season-long deal is his third loan spell since arriving at Bloomfield Road in May 2019.

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If Ben Garrity and Jamie Devitt also depart, as has been mooted, then that will free up further space for new additions.

Blackpool head coach Neil CritchleyBlackpool head coach Neil Critchley
Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley

“You’ve seen some players leave already this summer, players like Ryan Edwards, Ryan Hardie, Nathan Delfouneso, Calum Macdonald and so on,” Pool’s head coach told The Gazette.

“They’ve moved on and I think that’s always going to be the situation when a new manager comes in because they will assess the squad and want to bring his own players in, which I’ve had fantastic support being able to do that in tricky times.

“I think it’s inevitable with only 22 players allowed in your squad, that if players come in then some players will have to move out the other way.”

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The EFL’s new guidance on salary caps and squad sizes has added a new element to summer recruitment, but it’s something Blackpool have embraced.

“I see it as a challenge,” Critchley added. “We welcomed the rule that was put in place, we were for it so we’ve been planning with that in mind all along.

“The signings we’ve made have all been with that rule in mind, so yes it’s a challenge but we’re the same as everyone else in League One and Two at this moment in time.

“If it comes down to a bit more of a level playing field then we believe with good coaching, good recruitment and a good academy to support your first team, then that’s where you can hopefully get an advantage in the future.”

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Pool have already been incredibly active this summer, bringing in eight players in total but a centre-back and a left-back remain high on the priority list.

When asked if further additions are close, Critchley replied: “Not at the moment, no. It’s a work in progress, as I said the other night, and I think we have to be patient.

“Identifying the players sometimes is the easy bit, while negotiating can prove a little bit difficult. But it’s all part of recruitment.

“We remain busy looking but we have to be patient. Are we looking to add to the squad? Yes we are, so that remains a work in progress.

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“It’s across the board where we’re looking. But you’ve only got to look at our squad to identify those areas yourself.

“We obviously had a left-back and a centre-back in on trial the other night, which might give you an indication.

“If we think there are players we can bring into the squad that will improve us, and want to come to Blackpool, which is really important, with the right character and fit into the new salary cap, if they fit into those categories and we feel it’s going to be good for us, then we’ll try and do what we feel is the right thing for the club.”