Grayson Exit A Bitter Blow To Blackpool
Despite Blackpool’s refusal to accept Simon Grayson’s resignation to take up the post as Leeds United manager and the subsequent threat of legal action against both the individual and his new employers, the reality is that he has gone and, even before a compensation package is eventually thrashed out between the two clubs, the Seasiders need to focus their energies on continuing the progress where Grayson left off.
It’s widely accepted that Grayson did a fantastic job at Blackpool on perhaps the most limited resources of any Championship manager and had probably taken the club as far as he could given the limited backing from the current board. That, coupled with the fact that Grayson was given the opportunity of returning to the club where he started his playing career and whom he has supported throughout his life, realistically left the Seasiders with little hope of retaining their boss. Blackpool may be a division higher (Grayson having secured the club’s elevation to the second tier of English football after an absence of 29 years), but Grayson will work with a bigger budget at Elland Road and the reality is that few would argue that the potential at Leeds far outweighs that of Blackpool.
The most immediate concern for Blackpool will be in ensuring that the backroom staff of Tony Parkes and Steve Thompson don’t follow Grayson across the Pennines. The duo have been placed in temporary charge for the Boxing Day encounter away to Sheffield Wednesday and there is speculation that one of the two could be promoted to take charge of the team on a permanent basis, although with so many managers currently out of work there should be no shortage of quality candidates for a job. An internal appointment makes sense in terms of continuity and given the fact that finances are likely to restrict the club’s ambitions in securing someone from outside.
The fact that Blackpool go into the festive period with a decent cushion separating them from the Championship drop-zone is testament in itself to how far the club has come during Grayson’s tenure. The summer departures of key players Wes Hoolahan and Kaspars Gorkss, both for a relative pittance, only goes to emphasise what a great job he did in difficult circumstances.
It would seem unlikely that whoever eventually takes charge at Bloomfield Road will be given much in the way of a budget to strengthen the squad, with the likelihood being that they will need to replicate Grayson’s ability in trawling the market for bargain buys and loan deals. Grayson played the loan market with particular success, but with many players due to return to their own clubs in the coming weeks his successor could inherit a seriously depleted squad if the club are unable to extend the current deals or recruit suitable replacements. This is an area where Parkes and Thompson could be pivotal figures and is one more reason why stability could be the way forward for the Seasiders.
