Top boss Gary Bowyer is still there for me says ex-Blackpool defender Curtis Tilt

Defender Tilt moved on to League One high-flyers Rotherham United in January but feels his best season was his first at Blackpool under Bowyer in 2017/18.

Having taken Pool back up to League One at the first attempt, Bowyer took a chance on the former Wrexham centre-half, who was soon to turn 26 and had never played in the EFL.

And Tilt will always be grateful, telling The Gazette: “I played my best football under Gary Bowyer in my first year.

“I’m surprised he hasn’t got another job yet with his brand of football and the way he likes to play. He’s one of the best managers I’ve played under.”

Bowyer was dismissed by Bradford City in February after 11 months in charge and Tilt added: “He’s very popular. I still speak to him now and again. He’s always there if I need him.

“If I do something wrong he’ll always let me know and give me stick, but he’ll always give me praise as well. He’s a great man as well as a great manager.”

Tilt played 99 times for the Seasiders in League One over two and a half years.

He added: “Because I only played proper football when I was 20, it was never a goal of mine to play in the Football League. But it all seemed to happen for me –every year I just moved up the leagues.

“When I made it full-time, everything became football, football, football. Then Blackpool came in for meT and I jumped at the opportunity.”