So bonnie in Scotland for Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer

Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer has praised the impact of the club's pre-season training camp in Scotland.
Gary Bowyer in ScotlandGary Bowyer in Scotland
Gary Bowyer in Scotland

The Seasiders have been based in the seaside golfing town of St Andrews on the Fife coast this week to continue their preparations for the League One season.Bowyer, who will return with the players tomorrow, says the fitness work and setting proved ideal as Pool build towards their opening leagur fixture away to Wycombe Wanderers on August 4.“Coming away has been great for us,” he said. “This is a venue that we know ever so well – we’ve been here for the previous two years – and it has served us very well.“The people up here are great, the facilities are fantastic and you can get some really good work in, which we’ve done.“It has also enabled the new lads to bond with the ones who were already here.“The standard of the work and the programme that has been put together by (fitness coach) Phil Greenwood and (physio) Phil Horner for pre-season has been fantastic so far. It’s been a very productive trip.”On the team’s return to Blackpool, they will play a behind-closed-doors game away to Burnley in midweek followed by four public pre-season fixtures.The Seasiders begin that friendly programme with two games on the same day. Two separate sides will take on Nantwich Town and Port Vale on Saturday, July 21.Bowyer’s men will follow that up with a midweek game against neighbours AFC Fylde at Mill Farm on Tuesday July 24 before finishing their pre-season preparations with a friendly against League Two side Crewe Alexandra on Saturday 28.While accepting it is always good to build up a winning mentality, Bowyer insists he is not overly concerned with results in the friendlies.“For me, the games are irrelevant to a certain extent in terms of results,” he added.“If you asked me how we got on last pre-season, then I couldn’t really tell you..“It’s about the training, it’s about the fitness and it’s about the timings.“If you’re fortunate enough to pick up some wins on the way, then it doesn’t do any harm.“But the main thing is getting everybody fit and ready for that first game of the season.”