Keinan on brink of Seasiders switch

Last updated : 20 July 2010 By INOIT

Keinan had a medical with the Seasiders last week and is now waiting on a work permit before completing his move from Maccabi Haifa.

The 25-year-old will be Blackpool's first signing since they won promotion to the Barclays Premier League in May and Holloway is expecting Keinan to be able to take part in the club's pre-season preparations in Devon this week.

"Hopefully Dekel will get his work permit in the next couple of days," Holloway told the Blackpool Gazette."He'll be able to take part in the other games here in Devon."

Rob Edwards has signed a new one-year contract the 27-year-old's previous deal with the Seasiders expired at the end of June but he has now agreed a new contract which contains the option to extend for a further year.

It means Edwards is set for a third season at Bloomfield Road having joined from Wolves in August 2008.

He said: "There has never been any doubt that I wanted to stay and I'm just glad that it's all sorted now.

"I love working here with the lads and the manager (Ian Holloway) as well. I thoroughly enjoyed last year and I want to be part of it again this year, and hopefully even more so.

"Being involved in the Premier League is the ultimate for any player and that was a big pull as well in me staying."

Celtic have offered a contract extension to Paddy McCourt after the 26-year-old Northern Irish winger was targeted by Blackpool. McCourt, who was signed from Derry City in 2008, scored Celtic's second goal as they defeated Seattle Sounders 2-1 in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.

And manager Neil Lennon said: "We have offered Paddy a two-year extension and the ball is in his court.

"I'm aware there is interest, but we'd like to keep him."

Blackpool are looking to strengthen their squad and manager Ian Holloway is encouraged in looking to the Scottish market after Charlie Adam was instrumental in last season's campaign after the Scotland midfielder's switch from Rangers.

McCourt had a four-year spell in English football with Rochdale during which they rejected a £1.5m offer from Manchester City after he was linked with several top-flight clubs.

However, injuries and a loss of form led to his departure from Spotland Stadium and unsuccessful trials with Norwich City, Crewe Alexandra and Motherwell.

He moved to Shamrock Rovers for a spell cut short by their financial problems and he was sold to League of Ireland rivals Derry.

Three years later, he was sold again, this time to Celtic, for whom he has made only five starts and 15 more appearances from the substitutes' bench despite scoring some spectacular and critically-acclaimed goals.

McCourt, whose lack of stamina appears to have counted against him, played in an advanced role behind Celtic's strikers as they won for the first time on their North American tour after two defeats.

A report on Monday stated that the Seasiders had made a £1million bid for the striker, who has been Derby`s top goalscorer for the past two seasons.

Hulse scored as the Rams drew 1-1 with Southend in a pre-season friendly on Monday night.Following the game at Roots Hall, Derby manager Nigel Clough said: "We have had no contact from Blackpool.

"There seems to have been speculation about Rob since we arrived at the club. In January he was going, then again in the summer.

It has been every transfer window."But Rob is a great professional and he just gets on with it."

Source: PA