Blackpool boss had made plans if Liam Feeney was to leave Bloomfield Road

Pool’s head coach sat down with the club’s player of the season for the 2019/20 campaign during the summer to discuss his role among the squad.

With the 34-year-old understood to be a high earner, and with new players arriving in his position, the club has opted to move him on with the winger agreeing a season-long loan move to League Two side Tranmere Rovers.

“I had a conversation with Feens during pre-season to tell him what my thoughts were and where he stood,” Critchley said.

“He’s known that situation for a few weeks and obviously this move to Tranmere materialised over the last week or so.

“He’s happy with it and I hope he goes to Tranmere and plays like I know he can play.

“I wish him all the best because he’s been really good to work with. He’s a great professional and I think Tranmere will get the benefits of his experience in the next few months.”

Feeney’s departure means Blackpool now have 19 senior pros on their books, leaving them with three spots to fill between now and the closure of the transfer window should they wish to do so.

While Critchley admits Feeney leaving the club was always a possibility, he says the club had to plan for every eventuality.

“Because we’ve had a few months to prepare for the salary cap, we always had a bigger plan that we’re working towards,” he said.

“We have to try and predict what happens, but in the football world that can be difficult to do as the landscape moves quite a lot.

“You always have three or four plans at the same time and you try and juggle them.

“We were aware Feens could move but we were never 100 per cent certain, so you have to try and plan for all different scenarios.

“We’ve been doing that all the way along anyway.”

The Seasiders have until October 16 to complete any further deals, having already brought in 11 players and discarded a further 18.

“I’ve enjoyed it, it’s part of the job,” Critchley added.

“Will it make it easier (the window being closed)? Yes, because you know what you’re working with when the window shuts.

“But the boys’ application and level of work every single day, they’ve really embraced how we work and I couldn’t ask for any more from them.

“I’d like to think you’ve seen that work during pre-season and even last week at Plymouth, they couldn’t have worked any harder.

“When that window shuts, the players will know they’re here until January at least and hopefully by then we’ll have a strong squad that can go and attack this league for the season.”