'Down to them' - Ex-Middlesbrough forward emphasises key factors best season to date with Blackpool FC
Ashley Fletcher has enjoyed an impressive season with Blackpool - scoring 21 goals this term.
Ashley Fletcher admits he’s been made to feel important by two most recent managers with Blackpool.
The striker arrived at Bloomfield Road in 2024 after struggling for several seasons at a range of different clubs.
His time with the Seasiders looked as if it was going to follow the same trend after a tough start to life in Tangerine, but a conversation with Steve Bruce helped him to turn things around.
After rediscovering his confidence under the ex-Newcastle United and Birmingham City head coach, Fletcher’s game has reached a new level since Blackpool’s appointment of Ian Evatt in October.
The 30-year-old will finish the season as the top scorer for the Fylde Coast outfit, with 21 goals under his belt in all competitions so far ahead of Saturday’s game away to Reading.
This marks the best season of his career in terms of individual figures and his strongest form since the 2019/20 campaign with Middlesbrough, despite the Seasiders’ struggles as a collective.
Winning Blackpool’s player of the year 12 months ago came as a shock to Fletcher, but it may be a different story if he collects the prize this time around.
“Last season was definitely a shock, but it was a fantastic achievement - I was so proud,” he said.
“This year, I think I’ve played to a good level. It’s not just me, I look at Blocko (Tom Bloxham), Browny (Jordan Brown) and Olly Casey - I don’t think we’ve missed a beat in terms of games and training. We’ve all had to dig in and push the team forward when we’ve needed to.
“It’s been a real group effort, but I’m happy with how it’s gone personally.
“When you’re riding the wave that I’ve been doing over the last couple of years, it’s important to keep those feelings.
“Having two managers who put their trust in me as a player is so important - they’ve made me feel important, so it’s all down to them.
“It could’ve quite easily gone down a different route for me. I know I can thank myself for that, but I couldn’t have done it without their input.
“There’s the fans as well. When I first came to the club they probably thought I wasn’t at the level, but they stuck with me, and hopefully now they see me as an important part of the team.”
Fletcher comments on contract situation
Fletcher is among the Blackpool players who are out of contract this summer.
While it’s previously been stated that the forward had a 12 month option, it’s now understood not to be the case, with new terms required to keep him on the Fylde Coast.
Briefly commenting on the situation, he stated: “I don’t know what’s happening in the summer. It’s a difficult one - I don’t know what’s happening.”
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