Holloway targeting Blackpool boom

Last updated : 21 May 2010 By BBC Sport

Promotion to the Premier League would earn an estimated £90m and Holloway said: "I'm trying to build something here and I've only just started.

"If we go up and can get people popping down the M55 to Bloomfield Road then everybody in the town will prosper.

"It's not just our lives we're trying to change it's everybody in the town."

Holloway was appointed by chairman Karl Oyston last summer with the directive of keeping the Seasiders in the Championship, but exceeded all expectation by taking them into the top flight in his first campaign.

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"When I arrived here I tried to share my vision of what I wanted to do with the players," stated Holloway.

"It's expansive, attacking football and ever since we beat Everton in a pre-season game the lads have been absolutely magnificent.

"They have made it an environment of encouragement so we can play freely with no fear.

"But it's the energy of the whole club. It's changing and it's actually starting to believe in itself because I believe in it.

"The chairman is buying into what I'm about and is supportive of what I'm trying to do. I'm 47, he's 42 and it's a fantastic relationship that I hope can go on for some time."

Meanwhile, Cardiff's Chris Burke is well aware of the threat posed by childhood friend and Blackpool playmaker Charlie Adam in Saturday's Championship play-off final.

Both players were part of the Rangers youth set-up before leaving Ibrox for England's second tier last year.

"I knew that he was going to be a fantastic signing," said Burke.

"He can spot a pass, dribble, likes a tackle and he scores goals. He will be key for their morale but we have to concentrate on ourselves."

Adam joined Blackpool for £500,000 and had become an integral part of their midfield, scoring 18 times in league and cup action.

"People said it was a gamble for Blackpool for someone who was hardly heard of last summer but Charlie is a top lad and a bit of a joker and he gets the guys up for a game," added Burke.

"He will always get double figures for any team that he plays in.

"We have not set out any special plans. The way we got here is doing the same thing week in week out and we will not change our plans for this one game."

Adam scored the equaliser as Blackpool earned a 1-1 draw at Cardiff in January and 1-1 was also the scoreline when the teams met at Bloomfield Road in August.

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Having dispatched Nottingham Forest to reach the final, Blackpool, who finished six points behind Cardiff in sixth place in the league table, are the surprise package but Burke said: "I can assure you nobody at this club will underestimate Blackpool.

"They are in the final because they deserve to be. It's as simple as that. We all watched the Forest game and they were fantastic in the second leg. They will set out to attack us and they have players who can score goals.

"So we know it will be tough. But we are 90 minutes away from promotion and we all can't wait for the game to start."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport