Two Futures Set To Be Decided

The futures of Shaun Barker and perhaps surprisingly Alex John-Baptiste are up in the air, but there seems a clear plan from the top.

The Seasiders begin pre-season training on Wednesday, and Holloway is quite clear as to what will be going on around Bloomfield Road.

He has drawn up a list of potential signings in the central defence department if Shaun Barker is allowed to leave the club.

'I have already asked other clubs about their players and given the chairman three or four targets just in case Shaun goes.

'So they're already lined up to some extent,' he said, although the price of some lower league defenders has left him astounded.

'The insulting thing is that the people we've inquired about, their clubs are asking for almost more than we've been offered for Shaun.

'The valuations from some lower league clubs. There doesn't seem to be any grounds for them.'

One thing we did pick up from the interview is his stance on who is going to play where, providing that Barker stays with the club.

Holloway seems intent on Danny Coid being the first choice right back for the 'Pool, which could give us the biggest hint yet regarding Alex John-Baptiste's future at the club.

It could be that the gaffer hasn't seen AJB play at right back, or that he is the subject of a bid from a divisional rival.

The defender signed from Mansfield Town last summer and although he played just 21 games for The Seasiders last term, managed to pick up two player of the year awards.

Talking about Barker, the manager finished by saying: 'He won't be playing right back, he'll be centre half. I've seen a lot of the games when he was right back and I know he can do a job but at the moment Danny Coid is going to play there. Shaun will be centre half.'