Blackpool manager Steve Bruce is already setting his sights on a promotion push next season after missing out on a place in the League One play-offs.
The Seasiders had been hoping to make a late surge up the table and looked well on course last month following wins over fellow top six contenders Bolton Wanderers and Reading. However, they suffered a blip in form at just the wrong time and enter today’s final day showdown with relegated Bristol Rovers on a run of one win in five.
This has seen their hopes of a play-off place diminish and Bruce’s side now find themselves 11 points behind sixth-placed Leyton Orient. As such, focus is already on how they can improve next season.
Bruce Sets Sight On Promotion
Steve Bruce is a man who knows how to get over the line, having achieved promotion four times in his managerial career. He is targeting a fifth with Blackpool next season. Speaking ahead of today’s final game, the 64-year-old revealed his disappointment and not having the opportunity to achieve just that this season:
“For where we all want to be, I don’t find outside the play-offs acceptable. We’ve got to aim higher than that. There’s been times where I thought we’d given ourselves a chance, but unfortunately, we’ve not been good enough to take it.
“We’ve got a big summer ahead, but first, we’ve got to analyse the whole season. We’ve got to aim higher because we’ve got the capability of being better off where we finished.
“There’s been a big change, and the players have had five different voices. The manager was in place at the start, then (Richard) Keogh came in and had his opinions, I came in then went away for a month, Steve Agnew had his opinions, then they went back to me.
“There’s been a big change in almost everything. We had a wonderful start, but then we had two or three injuries.
“We’ve laid some foundations and hit an identity of how we want to play, so let’s see what we can do.”
Writer’s View
It’s been a difficult season for Blackpool, who have had to contend with a number of changes throughout the campaign. This has ultimately led to them falling short but Bruce will know he has the capability to get over the line next season. League One is unlikely to be as tough next time around. Those coming down from the Championship are arguably much weaker than those going up, giving the Seasiders an excellent opportunity.
