Blackpool suffered a 2-0 defeat to Barrow in their latest pre-season outing.

Blackpool boss Ian Evatt believes his former club Barrow are in safe hands under two of his former colleagues.

The Seasiders suffered a 2-0 defeat at Holker Street on Saturday afternoon, with Rekeem Harper and Innes Cameron were on target either side of half time, in a fixture marking the anniversary of the Bluebird’s first-ever professional game back in 1901.

Evatt was in charge of the Cumbrian outfit between 2018 and 2020, and guided them to the National League title in his second season.

Barrow’s six-year stay in the EFL came to an end back in May, but the Seasiders head coach is confident they can return under head coach Adam Murray and assistant Andy Taylor.

The former was with Evatt in the youth ranks at Derby County, while the latter, who was a Blackpool player between 2016 and 2018, worked with him at Bolton Wanderers.

“This is a brilliant football club and it gave me a huge opportunity - I like to think we repaid them for that with what we achieved,” he said.

“There’s some good people here, the chairman is a fantastic person. Adam (Murray) and Tails (Andy Taylor) I know really well. Adam I grew up with at Derby and Tails was my U21s coach at Bolton.

“I know they’re in good hands now, and I wish them all the best for the season. They’re not going to lack physicality, that’s probably the biggest team I’ve ever seen.

“They’ve got an identity, and hopefully they can get promoted because the fans deserve a team in the football league.”