Critchley, Blackpool happy to make smaller Championship splash

Neil Critchley and Blackpool will be happy to fly under the radar as managers and teams at either end of the table dominate the headlines.

While there are a number of standout candidates making claims to be named Championship Manager of the Season, Blackpool chief Neil Critchley can be more than content with his non-headline-making job by the seaside once more.

Wayne Rooney, Marco Silva, Tony Mowbray, Nathan Jones, Carlos Corberan and Mark Warburton will all have their hats in the ring to be crowned the ultimate second-tier boss of a quite delightful 2022/23 campaign; Critchley’s work has gone largely under the radar.

But being mid-table should not detract from just what a stellar job he has done with the Seasiders this season. The former Liverpool Under-23 manager showcased his senior coaching abilities when filling in for Jurgen Klopp during the 2019/20 campaign and he has gone from strength to strength in his first full-time job as leading man in the dugout.

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For a club which hit rock bottom under the poisonous ownership of Karl Oyston after the miraculous highs of making the Premier League just over a decade ago, the constant and sustainable happiness which has swept the tide of Blackpool FC over the past couple of years is most welcome.

There is unlikely to be a repeat of last season, when a superb second half of the campaign saw the promising ‘Pool storm their way to the play-offs and promotion. But mid-table is more than fine for a