Bye Bye Billy?

Vital Blackpool can confirm that Sheffield United have made an approach for BFC's chief scout Billy Dearden, but that, contrary to rumours, the 67 year old has NOT joined the Yorkshire club (yet!).

Dearden was linked with a move to the League One club last week, with several Sheffield United fans speculating online that the ex Blades striker had already joined Danny Wilson's side.

However, whilst Wilson has confirmed that he would like to bring Dearden into his backroom staff and has made an approach for his services, Dearden is currently on holiday, preventing any move from being completed.

Speaking about Dearden, Wilson told the Sheffield Star, 'Billy is a top quality individual. Of that there's no doubt.

'Whether or not he'd be able to come here is difficult to say. He's away on holiday at the moment.

'The job Billy's done at Blackpool has been excellent.

'If you look at his record I think it's fair to say that he's helped to bring in some exceptional players for them.'

Whilst is known that Dearden recommended Alex Baptiste to former 'Pool manager Simon Grayson, little is known about his involvement in transfers since the arrival of Ian Holloway.

Indeed, Holloway has been known to act on the advice of his good friend and Stoke's European scout Gary Penrice as well as signing players off the basis of a DVD.

Ollie also stated towards the end of last season that there had been an issue paying one of 'Pool's scouts (although it is not known if it was Dearden), in that they had had to wait nearly six months after invoicing the club for payment, meaning that Ollie couldn't send them back out.

If Dearden does decide to move to Brammall Lane though, it will undoubtedly be emotional ties that play the biggest factor - he scored 61 goals in 175 appearances for the club in the 1970s.

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