Gary Taylor-Fletcher column: I’ve thrown my hat in the ring to be Blackpool’s new boss

I had a message back from the club on Monday morning saying they were due to put a shortlist together this week and will be in contact further down the line.

It was just a general response saying they had received my application and thanking me for applying.

I saw the rumours that Nathan Jones was favourite, although it’s now Rochdale boss Brian Barry-Murphy, but until I hear something different I don’t know what is happening.

There’s all sorts of rumours at this stage and until something gets sorted, those rumours will continue.

As I said in my last column, there will be a lot of candidates who are in with a shout but with the experience I’ve got and the people behind me who I’d bring in, I think I’d be the ideal man.

But it’s up to Simon Sadler, the chief executive (Ben Mansford) and the board to make what they feel will be the right decision, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

I’ve applied on my own, but I’ve always had a backroom team in mind that I’d want.

My main assistant isn’t someone I’ve played with, it’s someone who is very experienced as a former assistant manager/coach of international teams who I’m very close with.

David Dunn remains in caretaker charge for the time being and he’s someone who was a very good, attack-minded player.

He was unlucky to lose his first game at Bristol Rovers last weekend, but he’s already come out and said he doesn’t want the job full-time, so the job is there to be taken by someone.

Normally the coaching team the previous manager brings in leaves with him and the caretaker role goes to someone who has been at the club previously.

That’s obviously not the case here, but Ben Mansford and (chief commercial officer) Linton Brown have obviously spoken to David and outlined their plans and he’s agreed to take over in the interim.

As a player, I’ve experienced this sort of situation a few times where a manager has left and you have to carry on under a caretaker boss.

We had it at Blackpool when Simon Grayson left for Leeds United and Tony Parkes and Steve Thompson came in. It was just business as usual really.

Just before Ian Holloway came in, there were all sorts of rumours flying about and everyone had different opinions on different people.

If a manager got linked, one of the players would know someone who played under them before so they’d ring them up and ask them what the manager was like.

It’s that sort of stuff that will be going through the players’ minds right now.

Usually managers change at the end of the season, but it’s obviously different in this instance as the club are changing their manager halfway through the season, which poses its own problems.

Looking to this weekend, Blackpool make the trip to London to face an AFC Wimbledon side that lost 5-0 to Oxford United during the week.

You’ve got to try and win every game and there’s no reason why Blackpool can’t put a run together if the right person comes in.

They’re on a bad run but they’ve got to turn it round and push back up the table.

They obviously got the win against Southend United recently but that’s a result you would expect given the run they’re on.

Since then, things have happened and the change was needed. Now, to save the season, I think they’ve got to get the right appointment sooner rather than later.

I think the board needs to find someone who the fans will adhere to, because attendances have waned a little bit in recent weeks and the supporters need something to look forward to in terms of bright and entertaining football.