Blackpool boss to look at would-be additions

Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer is looking at trialists

Pool, who are due to travel to Scotland this week, begin their public pre-season friendlies on Saturday, July 21.

That will see two different Blackpool sides facing Nantwich Town and Port Vale – who have signed Seasiders’ striker Scott Quigley on loan – on the same afternoon.

They will then follow that up with a midweek trip to neighbours AFC Fylde on Tuesday, July 24 (7.30pm) when they will play at Mill Farm for the first time.

They then finish their preparations for the 2018/19 campaign with a friendly at Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, July 28.

The Seasiders are, however, expected to play at least one behind-closed-doors game before that date with a match against Premier League side Burnley in the offing.

Bowyer has revealed that he already has some trialists lined up for the coming weeks with the new season a month away.

He added: “We’ve highlighted three or four players and we think they will be joining us for pre-season.

“That’s for them to have a look at us and vice-versa and go from there.

“There’s one or two who have missed a chunk of football and we just want to check them over before committing to them long term.”

Bowyer has also admitted he is keeping an eye on players including Viv Solomon-Otabor, Joe Lumley and Sean Longstaff, all of whom spent time on loan at Bloomfield Road last season.

While he accepts the chances of them returning is slim, he has refused to rule out a return for one or two.

He said: “I think it’s fair to say one or two won’t be available again because of the progress they made in League One.

“Their clubs will quite rightly see the next stage of their development going out into the Championship or being a part of their first team.

“But I’ve got my fingers crossed for one or two of them to be made available to us, but whether that’s wishful thinking on my behalf, I’m not too sure.”