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Lee Clark named Blackpool manager 10 days after Birmingham sacking Lee Clark named Blackpool manager 10 days after Birmingham sacking
(35 minutes later)
Lee Clark has been named as Blackpool’s new manager, just 10 days after being sacked by fellow Championship strugglers Birmingham.Lee Clark has been named as Blackpool’s new manager, just 10 days after being sacked by fellow Championship strugglers Birmingham.
Blackpool confirmed that the 42-year-old has been appointed to the post on a one-year rolling contract to replace José Riga, who was sacked following a turbulent 14-game spell at the helm.Blackpool confirmed that the 42-year-old has been appointed to the post on a one-year rolling contract to replace José Riga, who was sacked following a turbulent 14-game spell at the helm.
Chairman Karl Oyston had stressed the need to move quickly to find a successor with Championship experience and Clark fits the bill having managed for two seasons in the division with Birmingham, finishing 12th and 21st. However he was sacked after a poor run of results that had seen them win just twice this season – only one more victory than Riga managed in his short stint. The chairman, Karl Oyston, had stressed the need to move quickly to find a successor with Championship experience and Clark fits the bill having managed for two seasons in the division with Birmingham, finishing 12th and 21st. However, he was sacked after a poor run of results that had seen them win just twice this season – only one more victory than Riga managed in his short stint.
Clark told the club’s website: “I am absolutely delighted. The main objective is to try and keep the club in the Championship and build from there. It is a big challenge because of our position in the league but it’s a challenge that can be overcome.Clark told the club’s website: “I am absolutely delighted. The main objective is to try and keep the club in the Championship and build from there. It is a big challenge because of our position in the league but it’s a challenge that can be overcome.
BREAKING: Lee Clark appointed Blackpool manager. http://t.co/F4ZVPwvSlB pic.twitter.com/sX2dVs571uBREAKING: Lee Clark appointed Blackpool manager. http://t.co/F4ZVPwvSlB pic.twitter.com/sX2dVs571u
“It’s one that if we achieve what we set out to achieve, which is to stay in the league, it will be a tremendous feat by the whole group. I’m very confident with the players I’ve got here, in what we can do going forward, that we can achieve those goals.”“It’s one that if we achieve what we set out to achieve, which is to stay in the league, it will be a tremendous feat by the whole group. I’m very confident with the players I’ve got here, in what we can do going forward, that we can achieve those goals.”
Clark takes over a club bottom of the Championship, seven points adrift of safety already, and with just four wins since last November.Clark takes over a club bottom of the Championship, seven points adrift of safety already, and with just four wins since last November.
He managed to save Birmingham from relegation in dramatic circumstances last season, when two goals in the final 12 minutes at Bolton prevented them from slipping into the third tier.He managed to save Birmingham from relegation in dramatic circumstances last season, when two goals in the final 12 minutes at Bolton prevented them from slipping into the third tier.
Riga’s status as Blackpool’s manager had looked highly precarious well before Oyston eventually pulled the plug on his time in charge this Monday.Riga’s status as Blackpool’s manager had looked highly precarious well before Oyston eventually pulled the plug on his time in charge this Monday.
Rumblings of discontent had been circulating for months with the two clashing over player recruitment following a summer of inexplicable inactivity at Bloomfield Road, and the point of no return appeared to be reached when then-Burton boss Gary Rowett was openly offered the job in September.Rumblings of discontent had been circulating for months with the two clashing over player recruitment following a summer of inexplicable inactivity at Bloomfield Road, and the point of no return appeared to be reached when then-Burton boss Gary Rowett was openly offered the job in September.
Rowett turned down the opportunity, though, and was this week confirmed as Birmingham’s new manager following Clark’s exit.Rowett turned down the opportunity, though, and was this week confirmed as Birmingham’s new manager following Clark’s exit.