Opinion: Why Blackpool FC are making a mistake releasing ex-Middlesbrough and Norwich City figure

Opinion: James Husband’s time at Bloomfield Road has come to an end - but Blackpool may have been rash in their decision making.

The former club captain is among six players released by the Seasiders at the end of their deals, with several youngsters also departing.

Meanwhile, options have been taken on CJ Hamilton, Olly Casey, Andy Lyons, Albie Morgan, Ryan Finnigan and Kylian Kouassi, to extend their stays by a further 12 months.

That was also something available for Husband, and in fairness he would’ve been a safer bet to keep around for an extra year than a couple of the others.

There have been periods where the 32-year-old has let himself down, but on the whole he’s been a reliable and safe figure across his seven season spell in Tangerine.

He’s an experienced head that knows what it’s like to win promotion in Tangerine, and those types of attributes are important to have around the place.

Husband’s final season at Bloomfield Road was a difficult one, but wasn’t all his own doing. We can’t forget that he missed the first half of the campaign due to injury, and his presence might’ve made a tough start to proceedings a little better.

The part where he must take responsibility is the time he missed in the opening months of 2026.

A debate can certainly be had over his New Year’s Day red card against Port Vale and whether it was the correct decision, but his sending off against Plymouth Argyle for kicking out was pure stupidity.

Picking up the initial four-match ban was unfortunate, but to then be hit with another is foolish.

At a time when his teammates really needed him, it was a selfish act to take out his frustration in that way, but we’re all allowed to make mistakes, aren’t we?

The fine he was hit with was entirely fair, while stripping him of the captaincy seemed harsh.

While the club argued his Port Vale red card wasn’t right, it still felt like that was part of the evidence that led to his punishment.

George Honeyman had already worn the armband prior to that, so it very much seemed like something on the agenda beforehand.

Nonetheless, Husband had been at fault against Plymouth, and needed to make amends - which he probably did with his performances at the back end of the season.

It’s not a coincidence that an extended run of games for the defender went hand-in-hand with a strong run of form for the Seasiders.

There was a mistake in there that led to Fraser Horsfall’s sending off against Peterborough United, but he was also a major reason that so few goals were shipped in that period.

Throughout the last few years, he would’ve always made Blackpool’s strongest XI - and that remains the case now.

If Ian Evatt goes with a back three next season, it will be difficult to find an upgrade for Husband on that left side.

Horsfall is clearly the main option down the middle, and Olly Casey always looks stronger on the right, which will probably be the case for Michael Ihiekwe as well.

Zac Ashworth is the only natural alternative for that role in the current squad, but he’s not been able to hold down that position consistently up until now, so you’d suspect there will be movement in the market.

Even playing a back four, Husband is a more stable defensive option than Hayden Coulson, even if he doesn’t possess the same attacking qualities.

With a one-year option available to keep the 2021 promotion winner, it just feels as if Blackpool have acted too swiftly to move him on.

Only time, and their transfer business, will reveal the answer of if it was the right call.

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