After ultimately missing out on the League One play-offs, which would’ve at the very least have been their goal for the season, Blackpool will be looking to rebuild before another tilt at a place in the top six.
Potentially somewhat of a surprise to some, but the club are deciding to stick with manager Neil Critchley even after a slightly disappointing season. The manager did however take them up during the 2020/21 season via the play-offs and having that promotion on his cv does aid his case.
They weren’t exactly miles off of their goal, finishing eighth and just three points off of the play-offs but it seemed as if it was a season of missed opportunities for the Tangerines. Once again, the goal will be the same. A return to the Championship.
Next season will be the club’s second in the third tier following relegation from the Championship in the 2022/23 season and Critchley knows that improvements are needed if they want to challenge in what looks to be a very strong League One. With several departures confirmed, expect a number of names through the doors of Bloomfield Road this summer as the club look to rebuild.
It seems as if they’re not too far away from signing one of their summer transfer targets, with the Northern Echo reporting that the Tangerines are very keen on Middlesbrough man Hayden Coulson. The defender looks likely to be leaving the Riverside this summer and is heavily out-of-favour at Boro.
Coulson would in fact spend the second half of the season with Blackpool and impressed during his time in League One. With several other loans coming prior to that, it could now be the time for the left-back to permanently make a move away.
After a successful loan with the Tangerines, it could be a decent landing spot for the 25-year-old, who will get regular game time. Critchley is obviously a fan of the defender as well and a move seems highly likely.
Valued by Transfermarkt at around the £350,000 mark, Coulson won’t exactly come cheap, but with the Englishman entering the final year of his contract, Blackpool may just be able to whittle that figure down somewhat.
Writer’s View
Having joined in mid-January, Coulson would hold down a spot on the left-hand side of the Blackpool starting eleven, making 17 starts during his time with the club. He portrayed himself in a good light in that short spell and it would come as no surprise to see him also wanting a move back.
It is a big season for Blackpool with it being their second since they returned to the third tier and the goal will at the very least be making the play-offs. If they want to gain promotion then improvements are needed across the pitch, something which Critchley no doubt knows.
Already familiar with the club, the signing of Coulson could be a very positive one and it won’t take long for him to settle in. At 25, his best years are still ahead of him as well and he could become a mainstay down the left-hand side.
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