Blackpool manager Ian Holloway says he is looking to add nine players to his squad (6/4 to win their opening match against Wigan) before the start of the season, but admits it is going to prove very difficult.
Following last season’s play-off success, the Tangerines boss has spent all summer trying to add new faces to his squad.
But without a massive transfer kitty and with one eye on the future, Blackpool have found it hard to sign new players as they prepare for their first Premier League campaign.
So far, the Premier League new-boys have not be able to make any signings, with just five weeks to go until the start of the new campaign.
Holloway admits that Blackpool did not plan to go up last season and that is another reason why they have struggled to make an impact in the summer transfer window.
The former QPR boss told the Blackpool Gazette: “I have to try to get myself six to nine extra players because I’ve only got 16 at the moment and we need a squad of 25.
“We might not get to 25 and I hope we don’t have any injuries or suspensions before January because that could kill us.”
Holloway has conceded that Blackpool only have one scout, which has made it difficult for the Tangerines to check out players in Europe and further afield.
The manager has already indicated that he will look to bring in younger players and try and build for the future, with big-money signings out of the question.
Holloway added: “We’ve never watched a player who is worth a million quid. So how on earth can we now try and get a player – in fact nine of them – to keep us in the Premier League?
“That’s the reality of it. Until you get to the top flight you haven’t got the money to put these structures in place. So it’s a vicious circle.”
Blackpool kick-off the new season with a home clash against Lancashire rivals Wigan (9/1 to win 2-0 at Bloomfield Road) on Saturday August 14, before an away trip to Arsenal on August 21.
Holloway is keen to keep the team spirit at the same level as last season and that means looking to bring in a certain type of player.
The manager concluded: “What I want to do is get the characters right because I don’t want to lose what we’ve got here, I think it’s really special.
“They’ll have to come for the right reason, which isn’t their wage packet – it’ll be wanting to play in the Premiership for Blackpool.”
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