Striker is on the Seasiders' shopping list: Ten years on from Blackpool's Premier League 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, Pool boss Ian Holloway had his eye on making a loan deal a permanent switch...

Ian Holloway’s first transfer target of the summer is DJ Campbell.

The Seasiders boss has spoken with the striker, who is officially a Leicester player again after the end of his loan spell.

Campbell has struck 11 goals in 18 starts, including a crucial hat-trick in the play-off semi-final, since joining in January.

He has a year remaining on his contract with the Foxes but it is clear negotiations will soon begin in earnest about bringing Campbell back to Bloomfield Road.

“What happens next? I can’t answer that yet,” said Campbell, who was part of today’s victory celebrations on the streets of the town centre.

“But I had a little word with the gaffer after Saturday’s game and he wants to sign me.

“I want to come so it is just a case of hoping Leicester don’t do something silly.

“But everyone in Blackpool knows how much I love the club – I wouldn’t have come back otherwise.

“We’ll see what happens during the summer but I have been so happy to be at Blackpool during the second half of the season.

“I love the club. I love everybody, all the players, the gaffer.

“I am speechless and just delighted for everyone that we’ve actually managed to win promotion.

“But we’ve deserved it I think. The last 12 games we have been on such a great run and we showed again on Saturday that we deserve to be where we are. I am delighted.”

Holloway will also have to decide whether or not to try and sign Stephen Dobbie on a permanent basis.

The frontman has been on loan from Swansea and there’s no doubt that Holloway rates him.

But whether Dobbie is Premier League standard is one of many decisions that the manager will have to make over the coming weeks.