The Karl Oyston philoshophy of signing players in the summer was quite simple. Wait until it was close to the start of the season, offer a pitiful contract, agree a one year deal with an option in our favour, tell them they had to wash their own kits and if they were lucky they got a week's stay at the Blackpool FC Hotel. It may well have worked in the past but even the most hard pressed player is giving it a miss this summer.
When we waved goodbye to the two dozen plus players last season, it was hardly with a heavy heart. Most were names that were instantly forgettable. Apostolos Vellios, Tyler Blackett, Faris Haroun and Marvin Zeegelaar to name a few. Even those who'd carved out a career in the game like Michael Chopra made those with two left feet wonder if they could get a contract at Bloomfield Road last season. Fortunately a couple of the old stalwarts, who'd experienced better times and better contracts, stuck around to get us over the line. However, the likes of Matt Gilks and Barry Ferguson were smart enough to empty their lockers on the last day and not return. What we have left is a bunch of misfits. Those who've been made to stay another season (amongst them a couple who clearly don't want to be here), some who took the easy option and signed another year and a player from Estonia, who let's face it, knew no better.
The bad press since the end of last season has left the club looking as credible as John Barrowman on a Tunnock's teacake. We have quickly become the laughing stock of the Football League to the point where even easy targets are turning us down. Ben Alnwick heading to Peterborough, Stephen Dobbie thinking of a move to Fleetwood and Angel being made an offer which looked no better in Euros than in pounds is probably the tip of the iceberg. We keep hearing about triallists like Nathan Delfouenso and Ishmael Miller, both of whom would be decent enough, but the fact that neither has signed, despite the fact they won't be earning anything at present, speaks volumes. This weekend we're hearing players who saw Barnsley go down like Jacob Mellis and Tomasz Cykwa are now training with us. This is hardly a sign of the 'Riga Revolution' more like an impending 'Riga Relegation'. The fanciful European targets haven't appeared leading you to wonder if it was all a false dawn. The combination of an 8 player squad, a manager who hasn't unpacked his case, a management team who haven't signed their contracts, a training facility from the 1940's, deals which must make agents squirm and a Chairman being compared to Chubby Brown isn't condusive with signing quality players.
Blackpool, as a town, has made great strides to move in to the 21st century with plenty of investment, rebuilding and modernising. The one remnant is a clown which cuts a sad figure, sat alone whilst people laugh at him, wondering when he'll be thrown out .. and no, it's not the one at the Pleasure Beach.