Blackpool job's not for me, says interim boss Terry McPhillips

Bowyer’s former assistant played down talk of his permanent promotion before the game and stuck to the same message post-match, despite admitting he enjoyed the experience of being in charge.

“That’s not for me. I’m happy to be the number two,” McPhillips said.

“I’m proud they asked me to take the game. I was really excited. Bar the result I’ve enjoyed it but we will see what happens now.

“We’ve got a plan for next week, and I will speak to the club and we will go from there.”

The Gazette understands Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Richie Wellens and Owen Coyle have all expressed a firm interest in the role.

Former Pool players Taylor-Fletcher and Wellens both attended Saturday’s game, in which the Seasiders suffered their first defeat of the campaign.

Despite the loss, McPhillips was satisfied with his players’ efforts given the tough week they had endured.

“It’s been an indifferent week to say the least and you don’t know how they are going to react,” he continued.

“I thought they did react in the first few minutes, but for the rest of the first half I thought they were a bit leggy or whatever it was.”

“But second half we showed a lot of big heart and some good play.

“The goals were soft. So was ours, to be fair. All three were bad goals to concede.

“We paid for our mistakes but our response was terrific.

“I think that just before they scored their second goal (Nathan) Delfouneso had a good chance. But that’s football, isn’t it?

“If you score that you’re back in the game but they go down the other end and it’s 2-0. It’s a mountain to climb from there.

“I think the subs all came on and made a difference (Armand Gnanduillet, John O’Sullivan and goalscorer Mark Cullen). We were a handful and played better.

“We created some chances and the one at the end is just fine margins (when Cullen had a second ruled out) – it was just offside.

“But that’s it. We’ll have to dust ourselves down and get back to work on Monday.”

Curtis Tilt was missing from the squad for the second game running, despite remaining a Blackpool player following Thursday’s transfer deadline.

On the defender’s absence, McPhillips said: “Tily reported ill. He looked very bad.

“There was no decision to make as he had been sick in the night and he looked awful.”

Pool return to action tomorrow night, when the host Barnsley in the first round of the League Cup.