“He has only been here 6 months and he inherited a squad short on quality.”

And now for the answers provided by Gareth:

How long have you supported Blackpool?

Since time began (or more precisely 1985).

Where did you finish last season?

10th (but more importantly, we finished the season Oyston free).

What do you think of your Manager?

Hard to say at the moment as he has only been here since just before the start of the season, but he can be very negative and defensive. It’s not the most exciting football, and sometimes it feels like we set out not to lose, rather than to try and win a game.

This (January 2020) is his first real transfer window so let’s see who he brings in, allow him to get his own team, and judge him at the end of the season.

Who Are The League One Managers? No.3: Simon Grayson (Blackpool)

What are your hopes and expectations for the 2019/20 season?

A playoff push would be great, and we are capable of doing that, but realistically, I think it will be mid-table consolidation.

One(s) to watch?

Well, we have just signed a few new players and a couple to watch (if they play) are Gary Madine and Marc Bola.

Madine cost Cardiff £6million a couple of years back and he is a real handful as a centre forward. Marc Bola left us last season to go to Middlesbrough but things haven’t worked out for him there so he is back at Bloomfield on loan.

Bola is a left-sided player who is very skilful but can defend also. Loves an overlap and is very fast!

Finally, there is the enigma that is Armand Erwan Dsihounou Gnanduillet. A strapping centre forward who divides opinion amongst our fan base. Personally, I love him. On his day he is unplayable. Not on his day, and he may as well be shopping in Asda (other supermarkets are available). He has scored the majority of our goals this season, and if he doesn’t score, then I’m not actually sure who else will!

Which teams you think will finish in the top six?

Rotherham United, Ipswich Town, Peterborough United, Doncaster Rovers, Oxford United and Blackpool.

Which teams do you think will finish in the bottom three?

Bolton Wanderers (and rightly so), Southend United and Tranmere Rovers.

What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?

Well, Lincoln are currently 15th and on 34 points (same as us), are well clear of relegation, have a great fan base at Sincil Bank, and gave us a great game at Bloomfield Road. I’d say as your first season back in L1, it’s been pretty successful to date. A late playoff push is not out of your reach, and with players like Tyler Walker and Joe Morrell, you are more than capable. Realistically, a mid-table finish will be a pretty successful season back for your boys.

What do you think the score will be?

2-0 Lincoln (we are in a sticky patch at the moment, and it will take new players time to settle in, that is if Grayson picks them!)

Random fact about your Club?

Blackpool and England legend Stanley Mathews was the first winner of the European Ballon d’Or award back in 1956, whilst he was still at Blackpool.

If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?

Can I have Joe Morrell even though he is only on loan at your gaff? If so, him, please.

He’s a dynamic and creative midfielder (which we are lacking), and he’s Welsh (me too)!

If not, Tyler Walker as simply, he scores goals and we lack goals!

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Blackpool Supporter?

Proudest would be either beating Yeovil at Wembley to get promoted back to the Championship (this was my lifelong ambition as I’d never seen us play higher than L1, and never in my wildest dreams dreamt we would get to the Prem) OR, the homecoming match against Southend last season, when thousands of Seasiders returned to Bloomfield Road after years of boycotting to rid our club of the Oystons. Both made my eyes water.

Most embarrassing? Jeez, that’s a toughie as there have been so many! We have lost to numerous non-league teams over the years in the FA Cup, but I’d say having Owen and Karl Oyston anywhere near a football club will always be embarrassing for any fan!

Who would you say is your most underrated player?

I’m a big lover of Matty Virtue who we signed from Liverpool last season. A dynamic midfielder who isn’t allowed to show his full potential because of the way Grayson sets us up to play.

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

Yes, we have BST who have been instrumental in organising protests, events, and publicising our plight to the audience of football fans, and to politicians up and down the country.

Now we have a new owner in Sir Simon Sadler, they are playing a much more proactive role with the club. it would be remiss of me not to mention that we do have other supporter groups as well who also assisted massively in removing the Oystons from the club, and in making Bloomfield Road one of the most atmospheric stadiums in L1.

Which was your favourite match involving Blackpool?

It has to be at Notts Forest in the 2nd leg of the playoffs in the Championship back in May 2010.

Having won the first leg 2-1, most Blackpool fans thought this wouldn’t be enough going to the City Ground were the Forest team had been pretty much invincible. Cue one of the best attacking performances I have ever seen from a Blackpool team and we won 4-3 (6-4 on aggregate).

A hat trick from DJ Campbell and a Stephen Dobbie goal sent the Blackpool fans into raptures and into the final.

The rest, as they say, is history!

Which was your least favourite match involving Blackpool?

Whenever we lose to Preston! No, but seriously I think it was the playoff final in 2012 against West Ham. The West Ham fans were horrible, there was loads of trouble as they somehow got tickets in our end, and we lost in the last minute!

Do you have a Former Players Association at Blackpool?

We do which is brilliantly run by John Cross who organises lots of events including legends matches.

What’s the best thing about Blackpool?

I think the fact that there is so much to do (even when it is wet)! It’s still one of the most visited places in the country and you can visit as a family with places like the Pleasure Beach, Tower and Sandcastle, or if you fancy a few drinks then shall we say there are a few bars.

Plus, the fact it’s not Preston!

What do you think started your rise up to the Premier League then ultimate demise?

Valeri Belekon started the rise to the Premiership in my opinion. His injection of money and enthusiasm into the club made the impossible, possible. That and we hit the jackpot with Ian Holloway and the group of players we had who completely bought into his philosophy and way of playing. The perfect storm so to speak.

Our demise was down to one family – the Oystons. But I won’t dwell on them anymore. They are history.

The future is bright, the future is tangerine!

Page One: The answers provided by Pete

"He has only been here 6 months and he inherited a squad short on quality."https://t.co/JxYVmzPrG8#ImpsAsOne #ProudToBeImps #UTMP

— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) January 18, 2020

https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/2666778416691720