Blackpool boss Neil Critchley made most of lockdown time but is pleased to be back at work

Players reported in earlier this week for fitness sessions, though it is today that pre-season training begins in earnest ahead of an anticipated September start to the 2020/21 season.

Almost four-and-a-half months since their last match, most players will never experience a spell away from their club as long as the recent lockdown.

That lockdown began just two games into Critchley’s Blackpool tenure and the head coach said: “It’s good to be back at work. It’s been a strange period for everyone, myself included.”

Critchley was back inside the stadium at Bloomfield Road on Monday for the launch of the Seasiders’ new home kit and the announcement that the club’s sponsorship deal with Blackpool Council is to continue.

He added: “I’ve still been doing plenty of work in the off-season, if you like, but it’s nice to be back and nice to be standing inside the stadium for the launch of the kit because it feels like we’re getting back to some sort of normality.

“Hopefully we’ll be back to pre-season soon and gearing up for a bright new future.”

Yesterday’s arrival of striker Jerry Yates was the fourth summer signing for Blackpool as the club has kept busy preparing for 2020/21.

Critchley also confirmed that he made constructive use of his own time away, adding: “During lockdown I was able to plan ahead, which has been really important. It’s given me the time to assess the staff, the players and to plan for the future.

“When you’re in the season, you’re working from game to game and you’re planning on a daily basis for the next match.

“But this has given me the chance to take a backward step and look at where we want to be in six or 12 months – a longer-term project.

“Myself and my staff have been working really hard and I’ve been able to look at the games from last season, look at the players and look at some of the players we hopefully want to identify and bring in.

“I’ve been really pleased with where we’re at and what we’re doing at the moment.”

Critchley has also been in contact with his former club Liverpool as they celebrate their first Premier League for three decades.

The Reds’ former Under-23s boss added: “I’ve been in touch with the staff and some of the players, but it was obviously a top moment for them and one that was well deserved.

“I’m just thankful the season could get back up and running for them because at one point it looked like it might not happen.

“That was a really great moment for them and they deserved it because I know the amount of work that went into it to get to where they’re at. The staff and the players deserve that moment.”