Blackpool chief dismisses claims club is trying to buy the title

The Seasiders have been one of the most active League One clubs in the transfer market this summer, making six acquisitions to date.

Two of those saw fees paid for Jerry Yates and CJ Hamilton from Rotherham United and Mansfield Town respectively. While the amounts were undisclosed, the combined sum could be as high as £400,000, though it’s likely both deals involved instalments and add-ons.

Nevertheless, the club’s early transfer business has led to claims from rival fans, especially on social media, that the Seasiders are looking to spend their way to the League One title.

Chief executive Mansford joked: “I have to stay off social media as I don’t see so much complimentary stuff about myself.

“In all seriousness, we’ve got a fantastic owner and he’s got great ambitions for this club. He’s really strengthened the management team off the pitch and he’s trying to strengthen the club on the pitch.

“We are trying to do it within the right sort of long-term business plan and, trust me, I’m speaking to agents on an hourly basis and there are clubs throwing far more money around than us.

“What we’re trying to do is the right business at the right time to get the right balance of squad and underlying asset value within the club. We want young players with their best years in front of them or players who can help us get to where we’d like to be quickly.

“The average age of the squad has come down and I think that’s a theme for how we want to set up.

“I think the suggestion that we are seeking to buy the league is a little bit off the mark.”

The Seasiders have recouped some of that cash with Tony Weston’s sale to Rangers for £250,000.

It’s also understood Plymouth Argyle paid a loan fee for striker Ryan Hardie, while the club are still hoping to benefit financially from Bright Osayi-Samuel’s potential exit from QPR due to a sell-on fee negotiated before his 2017 departure.