Ollie Goes On The Offensive

In just over twenty four hours time the summer transfer window will slam shut, and despite already signing eleven players this summer 'Pool manager Ian Holloway is hoping that his business isn't done yet.

It is Vital's understanding that Ollie is desperate to strengthen his attacking options before tomorrow's 11pm deadline, but that isn't the only offensive line the manager has taken - he's also put chairman Karl Oyston under pressure to back in him in the transfer market as he aims to rebuild the Seasiders and secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Ollie's praise of KO's fiscal policy has always been tempered (we're told he's a lot more honest about his feelings on KO in private), especially so at the moment; despite losing the likes of Charlie Adam for big fees this summer, the Seasiders have hardly made a splash in the transfer market (when you look at the overall quality of the eleven signings we've made, we've more dipped our toe into the water whilst still wearing armbands).

And with just hours of the transfer window remaining, Ollie has publically demanded that his chairman back him in the coming hours to bring in the neccessary quality that he feels we lack at present.

Speaking before Saturday's draw against Crystal Palace, Ollie said:

'If managers are judged on getting their chairman to spend money, then I'm rubbish aren't I?

'I defy anyone else in the whole world to get any more out of him than I've managed to, because we have a good relationship.

'The job I do for my club is to keep them in business, and at the moment no one has done better than me I believe... £98m extra on our budget should prove it.

'It would be nice to gamble a little bit.'

Admittedly in today's Gazette he's backtracked a little saying that he's happy to bring players in on loan if he needs to, but with our wealth we shouldn't be in such a position unless it's an absolute neccessity i.e. Matt Gilks gets injured and we bring in a keeper on loan.

His comments today are also perhaps aimed at lowering tomorrow's expectations; Oyston has been on holiday in France (he returned yesterday), largely preventing the Seasiders from completing any further deals. Indeed, despite various bids being made, 'Pool are not believed to be close to any deals at present.

However, Ollie's offensive doesn't just end with signing new players - he's also demanded that KO gives Keith Southern and Gary Taylor-Fletcher the contracts they deserve.

Both players rejected new deals at the club last week, and despite both wanting to say, their respective camps are both saying that the offers made to them fell far short of what they were expecting - and they have the support of Ollie:

'He's [Oyston] told two of my lads who played against Palace - you won't ever guess which two (from the way they played) - that they can only have X instead of the Y they thought he agreed to and I don't think that's right.

'It's really difficult for me trying to motivate them. I need this sorted one way or the other.'

Of course KO could just be playing hardball as per, but it makes sense to get both players tied up as soon as possible so we can all move forward as a tight unit.

Interestingly, it has been revealed to Vital that Ian Evatt rejected a new contract at Bloomfield Road this summer, only to be offered a much improved deal when several Championship clubs enquired about his services - does the same need to happen with Southern and GTF for them to get the deals many feel they deserve?

There's always been suggestions that the relationship between Ollie and KO has been strained at times, but hopefully they can work together on the same page over the coming hours and we'll have the usual busy transfer deadline day at Blackpool with a few quality players arriving and good news on the KS/GTF contract fronts. However, if Ollie doesn't get the backing he needs, things could get very interesting...

Nevertheless, we'll bring you any news as soon as it happens tomorrow on Vital - stay tuned!

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