Blackpool CEO admits club will keep on strengthening their squad

Former Sunderland midfielder Ethan Robson became the club’s sixth signing of the summer on Thursday.

He joined Keshi Anderson, Marvin Ekpiteta, CJ Hamilton, Oliver Sarkic and Jerry Yates in making the move to Bloomfield Road.

But with the Seasiders targeting promotion to the Championship next season, Mansford insists the club still has further work to do.

“When we announced our season tickets were on sale earlier in the week we said we were continuing to strengthen the squad,” he said.

“The hard work started when the January window closed and it’s a real credit to Simon (Sadler, owner) that Neil (Critchley, head coach) and all the recruitment staff carried on working during that challenging lockdown period.

“It’s absolutely our intention to keep strengthening. Our ambition is to get this club promoted, the ambition is to get back to the Championship and kick on from there.

“We will continue to bring the right players in the right time in the right positions to enable us to realise that ambition.

“I can assure the supporters everyone is working incredibly hard.

“With their fantastic support in terms of what they did with the refunds to leave the cash in the club, and with the way they’ve since renewed their season tickets, it all bodes well for us.

“I’m really excited and we continue to work hard to add to this squad to push to be at the top of the table.

“If we all continue to work together then hopefully we’ll excite the fans come the end of the season.”

Fans of Blackpool’s League One rivals have accused the Seasiders of “buying the league” after splashing out on recent signings.

While Mansford says that’s not the case, he concedes the club is making no secret of its promotion aims.

“We’re pushing forward,” he added. “Simon is doing his part and the supporters are clearly doing their part to help as well.

“Everyone can play their part, whether it’s renewing a season ticket or getting behind the new home shirt.

“Simon’s ambition is for us to push on and to get into the Championship and then to push within the Championship.

“It’s not just on the pitch, we also have ambitions for the new training ground, to really make the club a focal part of the community and to play its part in promoting the town.

“Simon has come here to put back into the club and supporters are clearly respecting the part he’s playing.

“If as many supporters that can get behind us as possible then I can really see us pushing onwards and upwards.”