Ian Holloway convinced Charlie Adam will lead Blackpool into Premier League - 10th anniversary of Pool's promotion

We’re dipping into the archives each day to bring you STEVE CANAVAN’S Gazette reports from a decade ago on Blackpool’s remarkable journey to the promised land.

Ten years ago, Ian Holloway was confident his star man would stay...

Ian Holloway is convinced star man Charlie Adam will lead Blackpool out in the Premier League.

The Seasiders boss admitted that the Scot would have most likely departed Bloomfield Road had the club failed to win promotion.

But Pool’s elevation to the top flight has changed everything and Holloway believes Adam wants to be part of the historic first season back in the big time.

“Just before the kick-off at Wembley, Charlie ran over to me and I gave him a bit of a hug and said in his ear ‘You were born for this day’,” said the boss.

“If we hadn’t got promoted, I think he’d have been gone already

“But now we’ve gone up, I don’t think wild horses would be able to drag him away.”

Adam continues to be linked with Everton – his agent, Kenny Moyes, is the brother of Toffees boss David – and has also been watched by Wigan and Newcastle.

Middlesbrough offered £2m in January but were knocked back.

Pool value the 24-year-old midfielder at £5m minimum but aren’t in the mood to sell.

With £40m in the club’s coffers already for promotion to the top division they have no financial worries.

Add to that the fact Holloway is planning to build his Premier League team around Adam and is loath to lose his key man, and the obvious conclusion is that the club are unlikely to sell a player who has 12 months to run on his contract, with a further year’s option after that.

As well as making sure he hangs onto his prize assets, Holloway is busy identifying possible targets and deciding who he wants to bring in.

There is speculation linking him with a number of players and there are plenty of agents getting in touch but the manager says he will be careful with his money and ensure he signs the right characters.

“I’ve got some of the most famous agents in the world ringing me,” Holloway said.

“They’ve never bothered with me in the past, and they’ll have a shock because I’ve told them we won’t be spending the sort of money they’re talking about.

“What they won’t realise is that we’ll do the thing we’ve always done.

“I’m looking for good people, quality people, not people who want to pick up a big wage.”