Football

Blackpool FC has been rewarded with a prize money of £20,000 by the Football Association for securing the top spot in the last season of respect table of League One. The award given to them acknowledged the exemplary disciplinary record of the team, which saw the team being given the least number of yellow cards (54); also no player of Blackpool received any red card in the whole season. This recognition and acknowledgment also highlight the deference shown toward the players of opposing team and the match officials. The Football Association’s Programme of Respect was initiated in the year of 2008 with the motive of uniting the game of football and making sure that football is enjoyed in peaceful, safe and a level of inclusive environments.

The prize money of £20,000 will aid the work which is being carried out by Community Trust of Blackpool FC. Ashley Hackett, the chief executive of the club said “We are not surprised that our club has won this award. The attitude of the coaching staff and players, both on community visits and on the pitch, has always remained highly professional. “They have always supported the projects carried out by us and we thank and congratulate them for this prize and their continued co-operation. He added this is really a great gesture from the team of Football Association and it is a resource which is highly appreciated and we will use this resource to continue our work within the community of Blackpool.

Jose Riga’s future at Blackpool looked uncertain a week ago when it was revealed that Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston had spoken with managers like Gary Rowett over the possibility of taking over. The Championship strugglers are just one place above the bottom of the table, but Riga has always sounded confident of getting the club out of trouble. The latest revelations, though, has put huge pressure Blackpool to come out and back their manager in public. Oyston revealed a few days ago that he held productive talks with the manager, but Riga has had just after the 1-0 defeat against Watford that the chairman has to back his talk with action.

Normally a couple of weeks before the start of a new season, the fans of every football club remain excited and optimistic, but, for the fans of Blackpool FC, the situation is a bit different right now. They are not filled with excitement at all and there is a reason behind it. The club which once used to play in the English top tier has not even had a full squad at this point of time.

Charles Dunne would not go on holidays this summer. He wants to put in effort on his fitness and his game during the current break so that he manages to create impact in his debut season at Blackpool FC.

Dunne had signed for Blackpool last year actually, but, he was placed on loan to Wycombe Wanderers immediately after his signing and he remained there for the entire first half of the 2013-14 Season. Thereafter, he suffered a nasty leg injury which ruled him out of the remaining part of the season.

Newly-promoted Blackpool are chasing Sunderland full-back Phil Bardsley in an attempt to strengthen their defence in preparation for Premier League football.

The Journal claims Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is looking to offload the former Manchester United trainee. It is believed Seasiders boss Ian Holloway is an admirer of Bardsley, and is monitoring the situation closely.

The paper has also played down suggestions that West Brom might be tempted to make a bid for Bardsley. The Baggies were previously one of the front runners for Bardsley's signature over the summer

Blackpool midfielder Keith Southern has paid tribute to manager Ian Holloway for leading the club into the Premiership.

In the space of a year - and after 12 months out of the game - Holloway has changed the mentality on the Fylde and brought a refreshing style of football to Blackpool, resulting in promotion at Wembley.

Southern told the club's website: "The bulk of the players were here last season but the manager has put us in a system, a structure that has allowed us to play with freedom and a lot of attacking zip.