Today's SLO column in Blackpool Gazette

SLO_BFC

SLO_BFC

Well-known member
What a fantastic night at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday as the Seasiders won their quarter-final EFL Trophy match on penalties against current cup holders Bolton Wanderers. We will know who we get to face in the semi-finals later today (out of Bradford, Peterborough and Wycombe). We’re one game away from Wembley. Of course, Blackpool has won the Trophy twice since the millennium and I believe Bristol City is the only club to have won it three times.

In fact January was a good month for us in terms of cup action as two hugely entertaining games against premier league Nottingham Forest showed. We could and maybe should have edged the game at the City Ground and then the replay at Bloomfield Road, but I think those performances did much to fire up the spirit within the squad and the belief among supporters that the second half of the season might become something special.

An away win in the league at Bristol Rovers last time we were on the road needs to be matched if possible when we go to Stevenage tomorrow, for the Boro are directly above us in the table and also harbouring hopes of a play-off place. If you’re going to the game, travel safely and make a lot of noise.

By the time you’re reading this the transfer window will have closed. I guess you’d describe Blackpool’s business as steady, if not spectacular. Neil Critchley said he would only go for signings who would significantly improve the squad, so we look for good things from George Byers (on loan from Sheffield Wednesday), Hayden Coulson (on loan from Middlesbrough) and Ryan Finnigan (permanent signing from Southampton). Doug Tharme and Tashan Oakley-Boothe, both fringe players, have moved on to seek regular football elsewhere and Kenny Dougall has elected for personal reasons to leave Blackpool and sign for Buriram United in Thailand. ‘King’ Kenny will be missed at the heart of midfield. Blackpool fans will be eternally grateful to him for the two goals he scored at Wembley in 2021 to return us to the Championship. We wish him well.

As I advised last time, the Club will be holding the first Structured Dialogue meeting of the season with supporters’ groups representatives next week. It will be an opportunity for our new CEO Julian Winter to introduce himself to our fans’ groups. There will be an update on where we’re situated regarding the FA Charge that was imposed on the club at the beginning of the season and the year-long Action Plan that Blackpool FC is working through. But the main item on the agenda will be the unveiling of ‘Seasiders Together’, the details and aims behind the club’s vision for the future of supporter communication and engagement. As supporters’ liaison officer, I’m excited by what is intended to be a much more comprehensive two-way dialogue on a number of different levels.

Finally, let me remind you that if any fan wishes to contact me for any reason at all, my email is slo@blackpoolfc.co.uk - and you might also like to follow @bfcslo on Facebook and X.

UTMP!
Steve Rowland
 
SLO_BFC said:
What a fantastic night at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday as the Seasiders won their quarter-final EFL Trophy match on penalties against current cup holders Bolton Wanderers. We will know who we get to face in the semi-finals later today (out of Bradford, Peterborough and Wycombe). We’re one game away from Wembley. Of course, Blackpool has won the Trophy twice since the millennium and I believe Bristol City is the only club to have won it three times.

In fact January was a good month for us in terms of cup action as two hugely entertaining games against premier league Nottingham Forest showed. We could and maybe should have edged the game at the City Ground and then the replay at Bloomfield Road, but I think those performances did much to fire up the spirit within the squad and the belief among supporters that the second half of the season might become something special.

An away win in the league at Bristol Rovers last time we were on the road needs to be matched if possible when we go to Stevenage tomorrow, for the Boro are directly above us in the table and also harbouring hopes of a play-off place. If you’re going to the game, travel safely and make a lot of noise.

By the time you’re reading this the transfer window will have closed. I guess you’d describe Blackpool’s business as steady, if not spectacular. Neil Critchley said he would only go for signings who would significantly improve the squad, so we look for good things from George Byers (on loan from Sheffield Wednesday), Hayden Coulson (on loan from Middlesbrough) and Ryan Finnigan (permanent signing from Southampton). Doug Tharme and Tashan Oakley-Boothe, both fringe players, have moved on to seek regular football elsewhere and Kenny Dougall has elected for personal reasons to leave Blackpool and sign for Buriram United in Thailand. ‘King’ Kenny will be missed at the heart of midfield. Blackpool fans will be eternally grateful to him for the two goals he scored at Wembley in 2021 to return us to the Championship. We wish him well.

As I advised last time, the Club will be holding the first Structured Dialogue meeting of the season with supporters’ groups representatives next week. It will be an opportunity for our new CEO Julian Winter to introduce himself to our fans’ groups. There will be an update on where we’re situated regarding the FA Charge that was imposed on the club at the beginning of the season and the year-long Action Plan that Blackpool FC is working through. But the main item on the agenda will be the unveiling of ‘Seasiders Together’, the details and aims behind the club’s vision for the future of supporter communication and engagement. As supporters’ liaison officer, I’m excited by what is intended to be a much more comprehensive two-way dialogue on a number of different levels.

Finally, let me remind you that if any fan wishes to contact me for any reason at all, my email is slo@blackpoolfc.co.uk - and you might also like to follow @bfcslo on Facebook and X.

UTMP!
Steve Rowland
Click to expand...
Why is the structured dialogue meeting only open to representatives of supporters groups?
 
Lots of questions to be answered. What's happening with the training ground, east stand, general lack of investment in the current ground infrastructure. It's a bit of a shoddy mess IMO, and the years tick by, just like when the oystens were in charge.
Maybe it's too big a fish for Simon.
Aside from getting rid of the oystens We're still in a similar position structurally, and the same league position.
 
parker14 said:
Lots of questions to be answered. What's happening with the training ground, east stand, general lack of investment in the current ground infrastructure. It's a bit of a shoddy mess IMO, and the years tick by, just like when the oystens were in charge.
Maybe it's too big a fish for Simon.
Aside from getting rid of the oystens We're still in a similar position structurally, and the same league position.
Click to expand...
Who were these ‘Oystens’?
 
Will there be a player’s rep present, asking about workers not being used in their best position?
I know if I swapped the reception and Year 6 teachers over in my school, there’d be a massacre and drop in results, and questions would be asked…
 
SLO_BFC said:
I did propose a number of wildcard places that non-aligned fans could apply for but this suggestion was vetoed. Maybe the reason will be explained at the meeting.
Click to expand...
In that case it will be a complete waste of time with the same club arse lickers present

What groups have been invited?
 
parker14 said:
Lots of questions to be answered. What's happening with the training ground, east stand, general lack of investment in the current ground infrastructure. It's a bit of a shoddy mess IMO, and the years tick by, just like when the oystens were in charge.
Maybe it's too big a fish for Simon.
Aside from getting rid of the oystens We're still in a similar position structurally, and the same league position.
Click to expand...
Is there a lack of investment in the current ground?

We've seen a lot of little improvements since he took over and they'll probably be an ongoing maintenance schedule. The pitch has seen significant investment.

Were also in league 1 and money will be prioritised.
 
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