|
Clarke has already had an operation to repair a cartilage and will undergo full reconstructive surgery in the coming weeks.The Irishman told the club's website, www.blackpoolfc.co.uk: "The few days after I found out, you could have put me on anti-depressants and it still wouldn't have worked.
"It is heartbreaking to know that but I am not the only person it has happened to and I know I will be strong enough to come back."Hopefully, if it is not this season, Blackpool will stay up and I will be able to play in the Premier League another time."
Everton defender Coleman impressed during a loan spell at Bloomfield Road at the end of last season as the Seasiders won promotion to the Barclays Premier League. The 21-year-old Irishman has featured regularly in pre-season friendlies for the Merseysiders since then and Holloway feels it will be difficult to convince Everton boss David Moyes to part with Coleman again.
"He is playing so well that David Moyes won't want to let him go," Holloway told the Blackpool Gazette. "I've asked him, I've left messages, I've spoken to Moyesy's brother (agent Kenny), so I'm trying all I can."
He added: "However, I think the honest answer is probably no. But I've got other targets I'm waiting on as well."
Meanwhile, Blackpool are reported to have had a bid rejected by Leicester for striker DJ Campbell, another player who enjoyed a successful loan stint with the Tangerines last term.
However, Holloway may yet have more luck in his efforts to sign Swansea defender Angel Rangel.
Rangel was the subject of a failed bid from Blackpool last week, but Swans coach Alan Curtis expects the 27-year-old to leave the Welsh side before the end of the transfer window.
"I think the club are trying to persuade Angel and trying to open talks over a new contract," Curtis told the BBC.
"But obviously the lure of playing in the Premier League is something he is probably going to find very difficult to turn down."
He added: "It looks likely that he may well move on, but that might not be for a couple of weeks yet. The (transfer) deadline is not until the end of August and the shame is he's such a good player for us."
Blackpool's players have been reassured that they will be paid bonuses they were promised for winning promotion to the Premier League.Some players are believed to have been promised as much as £400,000 for winning their Championship play-off against Cardiff at Wembley in May.
Players' union chief Gordon Taylor said the club has promised to pay up when it gets television rights money in August.
"I'm confident it will be paid - the club have told us it will be," he said.
Blackpool gained promotion to the top flight after beating Cardiff 3-2 in a tense play-off match that was said to be worth £90m to the winning club.
Players are thought to have demanded their money when they returned to training over three weeks ago.
But Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Taylor has insisted that players are not worried about the money and will be paid by 6 August.
It has been a nice little surprise for Blackpool to get themselves promoted but they have to live up to the agreement
Gordon Taylor
"We are aware of the situation at Blackpool," he said. "It has been reported to the Premier League and to the Football League.
"It looks like it will be paid in the first instalment of central funding from the Premier League when it comes through.
"The players are not worried. They have been re-assured that it will be paid."
Taylor was unable to confirm how much money was due to be paid to players but said the club needed to live up to its promise.
"I'm not sure if it's at the level that has been reported but it is a big, big bonus that needs to be paid," he said.
"It has been a nice little surprise for Blackpool to get themselves promoted but they have to live up to the agreement."
Blackpool, who are back in the top flight for the first time since 1971, are currently upgrading the East Stand at their Bloomfield Road stadium in a bid to raise capacity to 17,600.
The club were due to host Wigan in their opening Premier League match on 14 August but have switched the tie to Wigan's DW Stadium, in case work on the new stand is not complete.
Source: PA
Source: PA