'Understand the realities' - Ex-Stoke City and West Brom coach backs Blackpool boss to find right balance
The League One season gets underway this weekend with Blackpool taking on Wycombe Wanderers.
Ex-Premier League manager Tony Pulis is confident Blackpool boss Ian Evatt can strike the balance that is required to enjoy success in the EFL.
The Seasiders head coach enjoyed success in Tangerine during his playing days, winning promotion to both the Championship and the Premier League during his initial seven-season stay at Bloomfield Road.
Evatt returned to the Fylde Coast to take over the top job last October, with both Barrow and Bolton Wanderers already on his managerial CV.
Pulis, who managed the likes of Stoke City and West Brom in England’s top flight, states the challenge for all coaches is to both entertain and achieve their goals.
“The change of manager in the lower leagues always creates a real spark and excites the crowd, the supporters, and everyone around the club,” he told Midnite.
“The most important thing now for Blackpool is simply to win football matches. Managers have got to recognise that they are ultimately in the winning business.
“People talk a lot about style of play and being entertaining down at Bloomfield Road, and that is brilliant.
“If you can win and entertain at the same time, that is absolutely fabulous, but if you try to entertain and end up losing over a period of time, you are not going to be in that job very long.
“Ian has had good experience in management at Barrow and Bolton, so he understands the realities of managing in the Football League. You have got to put winning first, get the results on the board, and then follow it up with a bit of style and entertainment once you have built that winning culture.”