Jorgensen Fires Warning Shot

Claus Jorgensen, released by Blackpool last week, has issued a warning to his previous club in today's Blackpool Gazette.

The popular midfielder, who made 100 appearances in tangerine, has told his former employers that they must be ambitious and develop the club if Blackpool are to progress any further and avoid relegation.

In an interview that underlines just what a big part of the club Claus was, the midfielder still refers to the club as 'we' throughout.

Jorgensen told The Gazette: 'There are obviously things the club needs to look at: how it is run, the facilities, training ground, youth structure and so on.

'All the clubs we are competing against are developing year on year. Blackpool have not only to match them but, if anything, develop faster because we are already behind them.

'As it stands we are behind a lot of clubs and when that is the case you can only survive for so long.

'Ask someone three years ago what is the highest Blackpool can reach and this is about it - what the club has done since has been amazing.

'But I think what the club did last season was the absolute maximum. It can't get any better.

'So in my opinion things need to happen for the club to improve. I hope they do because the fans deserve it.

'It's always an easy line and the popular thing to do to talk about the fans being brilliant. I know they have seen mostly success in the last three years but they have been fantastic, especially for the first two seasons.

'I think the fans want to see the club kick on and I hope the club has not missed the boat, especially after the first season in the Championship when it was time to push on.

'There is a lot of goodwill and support in the area and I hope the club can kick on from here.'

Jorgensen is believed to be mulling over several offers from clubs, but stated his disappointment at not being able to work with new manager Ian Holloway.

'I spoke to him a couple of times earlier in my career and he seems an interesting bloke, so I wouldn't have minded working with him because I like it sometimes when people are a bit different.'

Jorgensen goes on to add that 'the lads and the team spirit were brilliant' and that he will miss Blackpool.

No one can argue that Claus was a big part of that team spirit and he will be difficult to replace, but as he says, it's time to be ambitious, and perhaps by releasing him, the club have indicated their ambition: whilst Claus could have done a job next season, Ian Holloway wants to bring in someone new, someone better. After all, no one got anywhere by standing still.

Blackpool Vital would like to wish Claus the very best in the future. He's a lovely guy and as assistant manager Steve Thompson said last week, he deserves first team football.

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