Gillingham boss Steve Evans labels Blackpool League One's 'big spenders' ahead of tomorrow's encounter

The Seasiders have been one of the most active third tier clubs in the transfer market this summer, bringing in 12 players to date and paying fees for CJ Hamilton and Bez Lubala.

Pool have, however, recouped some of that cash with the £250,000 sale of Tony Weston to Rangers, while Plymouth Argyle also paid a loan fee to secure the services of Ryan Hardie.

Big earners like Jay Spearing, Nathan Delfouneso and Liam Feeney have also been removed from the wage bill.

Nevertheless, Blackpool have still invested heavily this summer, which means they will present Gillingham with a tough challenge tomorrow according to boss Evans.

“Apart from Peterborough, they are the big spenders in the league in terms of their recruitment, they won on Saturday and we need to be ready," he told Kent Messenger.

“They signed Christopher Hamilton, CJ, who I found in the reserves when I went to Mansfield, he is a really good player.

"They signed young Jerry Yates who I signed at Rotherham and gave him his debut. He is a top young striker.

"They have just signed the boy Luke Garbutt (the former Everton player) and five or six teams in the Championship wanted him.

“(Manager Neil Critchley) has gone in there and he is a good manager. They lost on the opening day against Plymouth but I watched 50 minutes of it, it should have been six to Blackpool and they won on Saturday as well.

“It will be a test, they will be a really difficult opponent and what we are going to do is come up with a plan to go up against them and see if we can get a result.”

Despite the alleged difference in budgets between the two sides, Evans insists he has no complaints.

He added: "I had brilliant resources with Rotherham and Tony Stewart (their chairman), so I have no complaints, I respect it.

"I look at the money they have invested and the money they have spent and Saturday is a real tough challenge for us.

"But we are looking for a place in the play-offs and for this young group that would be absolutely remarkable."