Blackpool appoint Liverpool under-23 coach Critchley as new boss

Joe Williams

Liverpool under-23 coach Neil Critchley has been appointed the new head coach of League One side Blackpool.

Critchley has taken charge of two Liverpool first-team fixtures in Jurgen Klopp’s absence this season with the club’s youngsters trusted in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

The Seasiders find themselves 13th in League One, after dismissing Simon Grayson last month, and they will be looking to build for a promotion push next season.

Critchley has signed a contract at the club until the summer of 2023 and he’s excited to get going.

“I am absolutely delighted to join Blackpool,” Critchley told Blackpool’s official website.

“The trust and faith that has been shown in me from Simon and Ben gives me a very special feeling inside.

“I can’t wait to get started, I’m really looking forward to the weeks and months ahead, meeting the players, working on the grass, developing the team and meeting some of the supporters.

“The time I’ve had at Liverpool has been truly special. I’ve been incredibly well supported there from Alex Inglethorpe, the Academy Manager, and all the staff.

“It’s a truly special football club and it’s the people that make the football club the place that it is. It would have had to have taken something equally as special, if not more, for me to even think about leaving.

“But from the conversations I’ve had here, I got a really good feeling about the people, where they want the Club to go and how they want it to grow.”

Blackpool owner Simon Sadler was delighted to get his man, he said: “I would like to welcome Neil as he joins us on our journey and thank Liverpool for the way they have handled our approach.

“The fact that we’ve been able to attract a coach of Neil’s calibre is testament to how this Club is now viewed and is a result of the work that has been done here over recent months.

“Neil is a highly-regarded coach who impressed us with his thorough preparation and analysis of the team. We want this Club to represent the town and community by playing entertaining football, working hard and being organised.

“We firmly believe that Neil can deliver this and lay down the blueprint for our footballing philosophy.

“Finally, I would like to thank Brett, Linton and, particularly, Ben for their hard work during this process and a special thanks to David Dunn and Tommy Johnson for stepping up on an interim basis to take charge of the team.”