Blackpool boss linked with West Ham United position: Ten years on from the Seasiders' Premier League promotion

It’s 10 years since the greatest achievement of Blackpool FC’s recent history: promotion to the Premier League for a season feasting on unforgettable football at the English game’s top table.
Karl Oyston and Ian HollowayKarl Oyston and Ian Holloway
Karl Oyston and Ian Holloway

We’re dipping into the archives each day to bring you STEVE CANAVAN’S Gazette reports from a decade ago on Blackpool’s remarkable journey to the promised land.

Ten years ago, Blackpool found their manager being linked with a job elsewhere...

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Seasiders chairman Karl Oyston refused to be upset by ill-timed speculation linking Ian Holloway with the manager’s job at West Ham United, insisting that “there is nothing in it”.

Although Avram Grant was the firm favourite to be confirmed as Gianfranco Zola’s successor, the Blackpool manager was reported to be on the Hammers’ shortlist of four.

Pool fans have been angered by the timing of the story – they want their team fully focused on nothing but victory in Saturday’s play-off final and a place in the Premier League – but Oyston played it down as “pure rumour”.

However, Cardiff have had the same distractions – their boss Dave Jones was also reported to be on the Hammers’ shortlist, alongside Grant and Sam Allardyce.

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The Hammers sacked Zola last week after the club survived a brush with relegation from the Premier League, and the search for the Italian’s replacement has been in full swing.

According to Sky Sports, they pinpointed Holloway because of the excellent job he’s done at Bloomfield Road, taking Pool to within 90 minutes of the Premier League.

However, speaking to The Gazette about Holloway’s supposed inclusion on the list, Oyston said: “There is nothing in it.

“Any successful manager or player is always going to be linked by the press to every available job or other club.

“That’s how football is and it is never going to change.

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“If it is meant to send everyone into hysteria then it won’t work because we don’t act that way here.

“I really have no view on it. How can you worry about something that is a rumour and nothing more?

“You can’t deal with press speculation. If you tried, you’d spend every day all day doing it.

“There is absolutely no substance in it as far as I’m aware.

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“So it’s speculation and I’m not going to deal with speculation because there are rumours flying around about every manager, player, agent, whatever.”

Holloway has spoken during the season about his happiness at Bloomfield Road, saying he feels at home and plans to stay for a long while.

But until West Ham appoint their new manager and it isn’t Holloway, there’s no doubt Pool fans will be anxious.

The national media were descending on Bloomfield Road today as the club held its pre-Wembley press conference.

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Holloway, Oyston and several of the players gathered at the ground to give interviews ahead of the big game.

Tickets for Saturday’s showdown are well on the way to being sold out, with 32,550 snapped up by the start of business today.

Oyston is delighted with that figure.

“It is fantastic for our club and unprecedented really – it shows how important the game is and what is at stake for the club and the town,” the chairman added.

“We hope people will keep buying tickets and that we’ll be able to sell our allocation.

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“The more backing there is the more chance of us getting the result we want, and it would be fantastic to see Wembley full of tangerine again.”

Meanwhile, it’s been confirmed that Blackpool’s players will still be on £90 a week this summer even if they do win promotion to the top flight.

Holloway said: “Tell me another Premier League club who will only be paying their players £90 a week during the close season.

“I’m serious, it’s written into our contracts that we only get paid £90 a week until we return to training because there is no income.

“If you don’t sign up to it you can’t play for Blackpool.”