Timeline of Gary Bowyer's two-year tenure at Blackpool

The 47-year-old enjoyed two highly successful seasons with Blackpool, winning promotion from League Two via the play-offs in his first year before earning a highly impressive 12th-placed finish in the third tier last time out.

Somehow managing to stabilise the club in the face of unprecedented chaos off the pitch, Bowyer will go down as one of Blackpool's most successful and respected managers - certainly the best since Ian Holloway.

Here's a look back at the key moments of his time at the club:

June 1, 2016 - Gary Bowyer is appointed Blackpool manager following the departure of Neil McDonald, who left following the club’s second of their back-to-back relegations.

July 2016 - Bowyer brings in a number of new recruits as he aims to return the club to the third tier at the first attempt. Kelvin Mellor, Kyle Vassell, Colin Daniel, Jack Payne, Andy Taylor and Sam Slocombe are among those to arrive on free transfers.

July 23, 2016 - Bowyer’s first game in charge for Blackpool is a pre-season friendly at home to his former club Blackburn Rovers, which they draw 1-1. Kyle Vassell’s early goal is cancelled out by Danny Graham.

August 6, 2016 - His first competitive game in charge is a comfortable 2-0 home victory against Exeter City.

August 2016 - The Seasiders go four games without a win, losing to both Morecambe and Plymouth Argyle - leaving them in 17th place in League Two five games into the new season.

December 31, 2016 - A 0-0 draw at Grimsby Town on New Year’s Eve sees the Seasiders finish the calendar year in eighth position in League Two.

January 28, 2017 - Blackpool are knocked out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage following a 2-0 defeat by Blackburn Rovers. The Seasiders had earlier seen off Kidderminster Harriers, Brackley Town and Barnsley.

February 11, 2017 - Blackpool end a four-game drawing streak to beat Carlisle United 4-1 at Brunton Park, taking them back into the top half of League Two after a tough couple of months.

March 25, 2017 - A 2-1 home win against Hartlepool makes it three victories in a row for Bowyer’s side and takes the Seasiders up to fifth place in the League Two table.

April 2017 - Blackpool experience a mixed month in terms of results, but elsewhere scores go their way and they head into the final game of the season at home to already-relegated Leyton Orient inside the play-off places.

May 6, 2017 - Blackpool comfortably see off Leyton Orient 3-1 to book their place in the League Two play-offs, with a semi-final clash against Luton Town on the horizon.

May 14 and May 18, 2017 - Blackpool manage to come out on top of two thrilling legs against the Hatters. The Seasiders edge the home leg 3-2 thanks to a Mark Cullen hat-trick, before eventually securing their place in the Wembley final with a dramatic 3-3 draw at Kenilworth Road, with a 94th minute own goal clinching the win.

May 28, 2017 - Goals from Brad Potts and Mark Cullen seal a 2-1 win against Exeter City, taking Blackpool back to League One at the first attempt.

July 2017 - Bowyer oversees another summer of change at Bloomfield Road, with 10 players being released just days after the club had triumphed at Wembley. The likes of Curtis Tilt, Ollie Turton and Jimmy Ryan are brought in on free transfers.

August 3, 2017 - Blackpool lose Brad Potts to Barnsley just two days before the new season begins, which the Seasiders go on to lose 2-1 at Bradford City. Bright Osayi-Samuel is also sold to QPR on transfer deadline day.

September 16, 2017 - Despite their opening day defeat, Blackpool experience a superb start to the season with five wins from their opening eight games - leaving them fourth in the League One table.

November 4, 2017 - Blackpool suffer a huge shock by being knocked out of the FA Cup at the first round after suffering a 2-1 defeat to non-league Boreham Wood. Two days later, the result barely mattered.

November 6, 2017 - A High Court judge rules the Oyston family had illegitimately stripped the club of millions of pounds following its promotion to the Premier League, unfairly prejudicing the club’s former Latvian director Valeri Belokon in the process. The Oystons were ordered to buy out Belokon’s shares for £31.27m. Four days later, the club is put up for sale. The following Saturday, Blackpool lose 3-2 at home to Portsmouth.

January 1, 2018 - A 2-1 win at Rochdale, Blackpool’s first three points in nine games, leaves the Seasiders in 13th place in League One.

January 13, 2018 - The club announces the shock departure of chief executive Alex Cowdy, less than an hour after the team had drawn 0-0 with Bristol Rovers at Bloomfield Road. He was eventually replaced by Sam Oyston.

January 17, 2018 - Owen Oyston’s daughter Natalie Christopher is appointed the club’s new chairwoman. When the Seasiders enjoy a fine run of form in February, Oyston almost appears to attribute the positive results to Natalie’s appointment.

January 22, 2018 - Bowyer pays tribute to club legend Jimmy Armfield, who passed away following a long battle with illness. Bowyer goes on to lay a wreath during the day of tributes held before the home game against Charlton Athletic, which is eventually postponed due to the weather.

February 2, 2018 - Controversial chairman Karl Oyston is sacked by his father Owen, adding fuel to the fire of rumours of a family feud.

February 13, 2018 - Blackpool spring a surprise by beating league leaders Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the DW Stadium. Just 45 minutes before kick off, it was announced Sam Oyston had also been relieved of his role after just 28 days in the job.

April 2018 - After a brief lull which saw them flirt with the relegation zone, Blackpool record four straight victories to take them into the top half of the table. Among those victories are a 5-0 thrashing of Simon Grayson’s Bradford and a 2-1 comeback win against neighbours Fleetwood Town.

April 21, 2018 - Following a superb 4-0 away win at Gillingham, Bowyer tells the media this has been the most difficult season of his career.

May 5, 2018 - Blackpool finish the season with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Rotherham United, who go on to be promoted via the League One play-offs. The Seasiders finish the campaign in 12th place.

Summer 2018 - Blackpool lose the core of the team that led the club to their top half finish. Kyle Vassell, Clark Robertson, Kelvin Mellor and Colin Daniel are among those to depart on free transfers.

July 2018 - Blackpool are forced to train in Preston as Squires Gate is considered unfit for purpose.

July/August 2018 - The Seasiders look set to lose star defender Curtis Tilt, who is continuously linked to Championship side Ipswich Town. Bowyer tells The Gazette he would want £1m for the centre back.

August 4, 2018 - Blackpool begin the new season with a 0-0 draw away to League One newcomers Wycombe Wanderers, which proves to be Bowyer’s last game in charge.

August 6, 2018 - Bowyer holds showdown talks with club owner Owen Oyston, which results in him stepping down from his role with immediate effect. Assistant Terry McPhillips is placed in temporary charge.