BRETT: SORT OUT SEASIDE ‘CIRCUS’
BLACKPOOL legend Brett Ormerod says there is no way the club’s players cannot have been distracted by the Seasiders’ shambolic summer.
The Championship club were forced to cancel most of their preseason and at one point only had eight permanent players.
A spat between chairman Karl Oyston and manager Jose Riga saw Blackpool sound out possible replacements a fortnight ago but the Belgian remains – and Ormerod said his experience in keeping clubs in the second tier is what is required.
The forward, famously the only man to have scored in all four divisions for Blackpool, said: “There’s a lot of speculation the chairman and the manager don’t get on and it’s such a shame – as usual it’s the players and the supporters that are really suffering.
“I hope they are patching things up, the last I heard is that efforts are being made to get things back on track and fingers crossed that’s the case. It’s one of those where if a decision has to be made, then the sooner the better. The silence isn’t helping anyone really.
“They need to start getting the results and climbing the league. Jose Riga is very well respected in the game and helped keep Charlton in this league last year, remember – he knows how to do it but the whole situation there since the summer is not a good one to watch.
“For any Blackpool fan it’s a bit of a circus. From a players’ point of view you try to get on with your job and not let what’s going on distract you but it’s not possible. Pre-season was non-existent, it was so sad watching it unfold.
Suffered
“There’s no way you can ignore the issues, they were so public, and it has affected them and their performance has suffered. You only have to look at the league table.”
Ormerod, right, who turns 38 in October, last week decided to return to the game having not played for six months. His release by Wrexham back in April saw him go on trial at Accrington – but after James Beattie’s departure a fortnight ago a deal didn’t materialise.
Signing for Evo-Stik Division One North side Padiham in the eighth level of English football instead, he hinted that coaching or management may be a consideration in the future. “I have three kids and none of them listen to me, what chance have I got managing or coaching a football team!” he joked.
“I won’t rule anything out but my only real thought at the moment is playing.
“It is hard work at my age and I’m not as quick as I used to be. But you’re a long time retired.
“When Beatts left Accrington I did consider calling it a day but after thinking about it I felt I had more to give to football.”