Jay Spearing praises Blackpool FC players' tunnel vision

Jay Spearing and his Blackpool team-mates did not dwell on the clubs off-field issues

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Spearing, who signed for Blackpool in October of last year, went on to make 35 appearances for the Seasiders after agreeing a short-term contract until the end of the season.

The former Liverpool man will have no doubt become accustomed to enduring similar issues during his five-year spell at Bolton Wanderers.

However, the tough-tackling midfielder says their only focus was on the football.

“I get asked about the background stuff all the time but if I’m being honest, we didn’t pay any attention to it,” he said.

“I know it’s an easy way to get out of it but we weren’t really interested in it.

“The whole team had meetings with the gaffer (Gary Bowyer) before training many a time and he told us whatever is going on has nothing to do with us.

“We just have to concentrate on who is in this room and concentrate on what we’ve been doing on the pitch.

“Whatever happens out there, we just had to get on with it.

“From my point of view it was something that didn’t really bother me, we just go out and play football and be happy.”

The 29-year-old, who will become a free agent this summer, is still yet to decide on his future.

He recently told The Gazette he is keeping his options open but hasn’t ruled out extending his stay.

That is despite appearing to say his farewells at Pool’s last game of the season against Rotherham United at the start of May.

Spearing says, should he stay with the Seasiders, the club’s manager Gary Bowyer will have been a major factor in him re-signing.

“I’ve been doing my coaching badges then I shall be having a bit of a break with the family before I get married, so at the minute it’s a case of seeing what comes,” he added.

“My agent will be doing his work and will be speaking to clubs. We are obviously speaking to Blackpool as well.

“We’re just going to keep our options open, we don’t want a similar situation to last year (where he was left without a club following his release from Bolton Wanderers).

“I’ve spoken to the gaffer at length and we spoke before the season as well.

“He’s a major factor in what happens. He’s a major factor in the decision.

“We will speak again I’m sure within the next week or two after this course and we will go from there.”