Blackpool Go Global

The Ian Holloway era is certainly seeing big changes at the seaside, and the club are now set to go global in their search for new players.

Holloway has a reputation for picking up foreign talent, and it today emerged that Blackpool have finally applied for a licence to bring in players from outside the European Union. The licence, which costs a mere £500, is something Blackpool have never had, with former boss Simon Grayson going on record stating how he preferred to sign British players.

Holloway explained,

'We've got to open up the foreign market. There are some fantastic players out there who we can't sign at the moment because we need a licence. We are applying for it. It costs £500 but it wasn't the cost that stopped us getting it before - we just never needed it. I've come here and we need it. You have to look worldwide these days, not just in this country, to get the quality of players you want.'

He also revealed that there were a couple of players Blackpool might have signed if they had the licence, adding, 'Now I might have to wait until January because it takes six to eight weeks to get it.'

Meanwhile, currently on trial with the Seasiders is 21 year-old French striker Yannick Boli. Currently at PSG, where he started his career, Boli has been unable to break into their first team in Ligue 1, although he did score the winner in the semi-finals of the 2007-08 Coupe de France. He spent part of last season on loan at newly promoted Ligue 1 side Le Havre, and is hoping to gain some experience of first-team football in the Championship, saying 'I am happy to be here in England, hopefully it will happen for me.'

It is understood that he might join Blackpool on a season-long loan deal.

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