Lee Clark has been installed as the new manager of Blackpool, and has immediately revealed his confidence in keeping the Lancashire club in the Championship.
The Seasiders have endured a hugely difficult time of late, including a pre-season campaign in which they at one point had just six first-team players. Jose Riga worked hard to recruit enough men to form a squad ahead of the new campaign, but they have struggled to gel and, as a result, he was sacked last week after a run of 11 defeats and just one win in 15 fixtures.
Former Huddersfield Town boss Clark, who himself was recently sacked by Birmingham City after their own miserable start to the season, was immediately made favourite to replace Riga. And the 42-year-old has indeed been named as the new manager of the Bloomfield Road club, and he has already stated his confidence that he can lead his new side up the table and out of danger.
“I am absolutely delighted,” he told the official club website. “The main objective is to try and keep the club in the Championship and build from there. It is a big challenge because of our position in the league but it’s a challenge that can be overcome. It’s one that if we achieve what we set out to achieve, which is to stay in the league, it will be a tremendous feat by the whole group. I’m very confident with the players I’ve got here, in what we can do going forward, that we can achieve those goals.”
Clark’s confidence could be applauded, but in reality, it is clear at this relatively early stage that he faces a huge job in keeping Blackpool in the Championship. The Lancashire side are bottom of the table and already seven points off safety. But after keeping Birmingham up on the final day last term, he at least knows how to fight in such a position against all the odds.
Can Clark realistically keep Blackpool in the Championship, or is it already a lost cause? Let us know what you think by joining in the discussion below.
