Full-Time

So...the blog has reached the end of the road. There, I've said it.

I read an interesting article lately about the average lifespan of a blog, which seemed to suggest around three years is standard. Founding this blog in August 2010, I may have fallen just short of the three year mark, although it certainly feels a lot longer than that given what has happened at Bloomfield Road in that timespan.

In that time I've written 139 posts (and another 20 which never made it to publication), with varying degrees of quality it must be said. The early days in particular were littered with posts that really ought to have been long since deleted and consigned to the recycle bin, but I'm also happy to say there were moments when I derived some pride from what was written in these pages.

The hours (and I mean hours and hours) of research that went into writing about Blackpool's use of the long diagonal in the Premier League was kindly received, and to date remains the most-read thing I've ever written. I'm also immensely proud of the work I've produced on the financial side of the club - a topic which the local media have shamefully glossed over.

These posts will remain here for the time being, but in terms of new content, this blog has run its course. Maintaining a blog by oneself is a time-consuming hobby, and at times can certainly feel like a slog. Indeed, I'm sure it won't have gone unnoticed that posts in the second half of each season tend to drop off as the toils of blogging week-to-week with precious little spare time begin to show.

I would like to thank those who have read the blog in recent seasons, those who've commented, spread word of mouth, re-tweeted my endless plugs and hell, even the critics. Without an audience the blog would have died much sooner, and it is humbling to have had such excellent support.

So the blog may be over, but don't think of it as the end. Think of it as progress. Measured progress, perhaps.

Thank you.

Setting up for the summer

With Championship survival secured before the final day of the season, Paul Ince met his first objective as Blackpool manager by avoiding a disastrous, but at one point entirely plausible, relegation to League One. What his next target is remains to be seen, as the 'Pool hierarchy continue to keep their ambitions for the club largely shrouded in mystery. However, whatever the goal, Ince's summer task is to build a squad that will at the very minimum keep the club in the second tier of English football.

Blackpool FC's 11/12 Accounts Reviewed

Eagerly-awaited they may have been, but the annual release of accounts for Blackpool Football Club Ltd and Segesta Ltd (the properties side of the club) proved to be a much more low-key affair this time around. Absent from the contents was any mention of huge director remuneration like last year, but if one scratches beneath the surface, there remains a story to be told.

Four Thoughts on Blackpool 0-0 Bristol City

Paul Ince's side racked up consecutive clean sheets, but failed to inspire creatively as Blackpool made it back-to-back goalless draws at Bloomfield Road. Here are my thoughts on the match:

Four Thoughts on Blackpool 0-0 Leicester City

Paul Ince took charge of his first home match since being appointed Blackpool manager and in doing so earned a draw against promotion-chasing Leicester City. Here are my thoughts on the match:

Paul Ince gets the nod...eventually

After a managerial search enduring close to six weeks, Karl Oyston finally acted today to appoint Michael Appleton's successor. The new man in the Bloomfield Road hotseat is a matchday regular, with Paul Ince often in attendance to watch over his son Tom. What took so long for Ince Snr. to be installed, and what sort of challenge does the incoming manager face?

Going through the motions

Another deadline day passes for Blackpool Football Club and so time to reflect on what happened, what didn't happen, and what it means for the future direction of the club. Some will be satisfied that Tom Ince, Alex Baptiste and Matt Phillips were retained despite widespread interest. Some will be dissatisfied that the squad has not been strengthened with permanent signings or high profile loan acquisitions. Many will accept that the jury is out on the two loan arrivals - Matt Derbyshire and Reece Wabara - with both having performed to varying success at League One strugglers Oldham Athletic.

Picking through the debris, what can be deduced from the January transfer window, and should Blackpool fans have cause for concern?

Nine weeks later and the common denominator

Nine and a bit weeks is all it took for Michael Appleton to decide he would sooner take his chances at Blackburn Rovers than Bloomfield Road. This leaves Blackpool in a state of chaos for the second time this season. How did it all come to this?