Blackpool eye striker Eaves

Offers short of Latics’ valuation

BLACKPOOL have made two offers to sign young Athletic striker Tom Eaves.

The Premier League new boys want to take the rangy 18-year-old frontman, who only two months ago signed a five-year contract with Athletic, to Bloomfield Road.

However, both bids — one to be in the region of £200,000 — are have fallen short of Athletic’s valuation of Eaves, and Blackpool manager Ian Holloway is thought to be looking elsewhere to boost his squad.

It is no secret that finances are tight at Boundary Park following the recent twin resignation of main backers Simon Blitz and Danny Gazal.

And any substantial offer for Eaves — a player with plenty of potential who has interested a number of higher-division clubs due to his scoring exploits in the youth team — would be carefully considered by new chairman Simon Corney and the remaining board.

Eaves sat out last night’s 1-1 draw with Wigan, with manager Paul Dickov impressing off the bench in the final stages of the friendly at Boundary Park. Eaves is in the squad for tonight’s friendly at Mossley.

New signing Warren Feeney, last season’s top scorer Pawel Abbott, Ryan Brooke and Lewis Alessandra are already on board and with the addition of himself, Dickov may feel that with striking options aplenty any Eaves cash made available could be put to good use strengthening other areas of the squad.

Last season’s captain Sean Gregan is back in light training following an Achilles problem but the centre-back position remains a priority for strengthening.

Trialist pair Jason Jarrett and Rod MacDonald both impressed once again last night in the heart of defence and could be set for contract offers if Dickov can successfully manage his playing budget.

“They have all done well,” said Dickov in reference to the remaining trialists, who also include midfielder Francois Kompany.

“Jason Jarrett has been outstanding at centre-back — he looks as if he has played there a hell of a lot (rather than in midfield, where he has spent most of his career).

“We will try to sort things out, but sometimes circumstances dictate what I can and can’t do.

“That isn’t me moaning about it. If we go with what we have got at the moment and I can get what I want out of the boys — and what they want as well — then I will be delighted to start the season with what we have got.”

Meanwhile, Andy Holdsworth will make his long-awaited comeback from injury tonight in Athletic’s latest pre-season warm-up game at Mossley (kick-off 7.3pm).

The former Huddersfield player has been out since before Christmas with a knee injury.

Athletic: Fleming, Trialist, Lomax, Worthington, Fodor, MacDonald, Colbeck, Highdale, Eaves, Bembo-leta, Kompany, Holdsworth, Ollerenshaw, Kelly, M D Carr, Hughes, Kidd, Crompton.