We'll play the Blackpool way in the Premier League vows Ian Holloway - 10th anniversary of the Seasiders' 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 vowed his squad would entertain the fans...

Ian Holloway won’t change his style in the Premier League – his Blackpool side will continue to play all-out attack.

His Seasiders took the Championship by surprise with their adventurous 4-3-3 formation.

It left them a little open at the back, but they were so potent going forward that they backed themselves to score more than the opposition.

It paid off big time in the three play-off games as Pool came from behind each time to win.

Holloway said: “Next year we will try to attack the Premier League. I don’t want to defend it, that’s no good. We’ll try to play entertaining football and score goals.

“I had a year out of football and time to think about what went wrong in my previous job.

“I was too fearful before in the way I managed and I decided I didn’t want the players at my next club to be like that.

“Instead I wanted them to be fearless and to attack. And I wanted to entertain the fans who pay their money to watch.

“I don’t want to bore my way to a 1-0 win. I want to win 5-4 instead.

“So I changed the way I play. For starters, I thought why do keepers always hoof the ball up in the air? It’s crazy because it becomes a 50-50 and it strangles creativity.

“We got better and better as the season wore on, and if we keep working hard at the system we will continue to improve.

“So that’s how I intend to play in the Premier League. I hope it carries on being the best ride I’ve ever been on. The last week has been the most unbelievable time of my life.”

Now the celebrations have ended, Holloway and chairman Karl Oyston can get down to the serious business of drawing up a budget and discussing signings.

The manager is aware of the need to strengthen but don’t expect Pool to go mad in the transfer market.

Although outlay on transfer fees and wages has increased since Valeri Belokon arrived on the scene, Pool have never been bigspenders and that is unlikely to change even though £40m is about to enter the coffers following promotion.

The new arrivals will probably be a mixture of players in the £500,000 bracket – Dundee United centre-back Gary Kenneth remains a target – and players from abroad.

Holloway’s scouting network spans the globe and he will no doubt be searching for high-quality bargains.

In the midst of a glorious week in Blackpool FC’s history, Steve McPhee struck a sombre note by announcing his retirement from football.

The Seasiders striker fought to save his career but succumbed to the knee injury which has sidelined him for the last 18 months.

Although he didn’t get on the pitch during Pool’s stunning season, he said he felt like a full member of the squad because manager Ian Holloway kept him involved.

“He’s a terrific manager,” said McPhee. “I’m very grateful to him and all the staff, particularly Steve Thompson and the physio Phil Horner, for the way they’ve been with me all season.”

The frontman, who turns 29 next week, is hoping to stay at Bloomfield Road as part of the coaching team but admits he is devastated at having to hang up his boots.

“I had appointments with surgeons and specialists, and had second and third opinions, but eventually you realise there is only one course of action to take,” he said.

“After the surgery I’ve had, there is no longer anything in my knee to act as a shock absorber, so it is basically bone on bone.

“That was leading to a bone defect and if I’d have carried on playing, I would have had severe problems in the long term.”