New Blackpool FC leadership pair outline what the club means to them as they share ambitions

Blackpool’s leadership team are hopeful of putting the right steps in place to replicate the unity demonstrated at Bloomfield Road at the back end of last season.

Ian Evatt’s side enjoyed a strong run of form throughout the final weeks of the campaign to secure their League One survival, with supporters playing their part by packing out the stands at Bloomfield Road.

There’s been some changes behind the scenes at the club heading into the summer, with Julian Winter departing his role as CEO and Sporting Director David Downes stepping up.

Meanwhile, Head of Football Operations Nick Horne has taken on the new position of Chief Operating Officer as part of the reshuffle.

Both figures are Blackpool-born and are determined to create a strong connection between the Seasiders and their fans.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to drive the football club forward and give them a proud feeling, especially given the momentum we had at the end of last season,” Horne said in a recent club interview.

“Behind-the-scenes, there’s a lot of people who genuinely care about working hard to improve the club on and off the pitch. Hopefully we can all achieve something in the process.

“Fan engagement plays a key part of what we want to achieve going forward. Towards the end of the season, it showed what this football club is about. When we’re all aligned and playing our part, it gives us a real opportunity to drive things on and be successful.

“It’s up to us to engage with as many people week in, week out regardless of results on the pitch.

“We play an important role in our town and community, and want people to feel a part of something that could be really special.

“I probably wouldn’t be sitting here today if this club hadn’t played such a role in my life and upbringing. Football has a great way of engaging with people, and there’s so much we can do.

“The more people that feel included, the more connected they will feel. It’s up to us to drive through, David, myself, Ian (Evatt) and the players.”

“There’s a lot of things we can do better, but the overriding feeling is keeping the way the club felt in the last 10 games of the season, with unity and togetherness, going into the summer,” Downes added.

“We want to work on those bits of positivity and hopefully capitalise on that to put us in a better position for next year.

“I’m quite excited by Ian (Evatt) being able to have his first pre-season with the team, and making sure he’s got the squad he feels he needs.

“I know he’s champing at the bit to get back and work with the players to put his stamp fully on the group.

“Ultimately we want to be more present in the community with fan engagement. We’re proactively looking at how we can get out to schools and make us more accessible to younger people, so they aren’t being brought up seeing Manchester United and Liverpool on TV on a Sunday; they actually know about the club that’s in their town.

“It’s a really exciting challenge for us to get our teeth stuck into. There’s alignment between myself, the owner, Nick, and the staff who have a big history with the club themselves.”