Poll reveals who Blackpool fans want as their new manager as shortlist to replace Steve Bruce emerges

A new poll reveals who Blackpool fans want as their new manager as a shortlist emerges with some names being reported this week.

On Monday (13 Oct), Alan Nixon reported that Matt Bloomfield, recently sacked by Luton Town, are in the frame at Blackpool and is due for talks.

Since Steve Bruce was sacked, Ian Evatt had been a long-standing favourite, but he was replaced by Leam Richardson in the latest standings.

The likes of Ian Holloway, Damien Duff and interim boss Stephen Dobbie have been also been named in the running.

Bloomfield in Blackpool frame and due for talks https://t.co/hleIrDtlQR

— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) October 13, 2025

According to the poll:
Richie Wellens – 30%
Stephen Dobbie – 19%
Ian Evatt – 18%
Damien Duff – 14%
Other (Emilio Fernandez, etc) – 8%
Dave Artell – 5%
Ian Holloway – 3%
Matt Bloomfield – 2%
Charlie Adam – 1%

What the bookies BetVictor are saying:
Leam Richardson – 8/11
Richie Wellens – 4/1
Charlie Adam – 4/1
Ian Evatt – 5/1
Matt Bloomfield – 6/1
Stephen Dobbie – 16/1
Damien Duff – 20/1
Grant McCann – 20/1

Richie Wellens the man for the job according to the fans poll. With Wilshere going to Luton, could it happen? pic.twitter.com/isGKaVy8O8

— Seasiders Podcast (@SeasidersPod) October 13, 2025

Stephen Dobbie reacts to today’s 1-0 loss to Stockport County. 🗣️

🍊 #UTMP pic.twitter.com/Ss75BfI6ev

— Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) October 11, 2025

Meanwhile, Richie Wellens spoke after being linked with a return to Blackpool: ‘I’m professional,’ he told BBC Radio London after the League One contest at Brisbane Road.

‘This is not the first time, it’s more or less every time a vacancy comes up the mid-to-bottom of the Championship or good clubs in League One. It is what it is and I try to stay professional.

‘I’m pleased for the players because they never let their concentration waiver and they put on a performance for the supporters and me as well.

‘It’s not just for me but it’s a compliment for everybody at the club. We’ve won a lot of football matches, the success here for four years has been extraordinary, we were one match away from being in an unbelievable position.

‘We’ve developed players, we’ve developed young players, we’ve developed loan players so if you rewind four years and you want a load of box ticking, we’ve ticked a hell of a lot of them.

‘It’s a brilliant football club to work for and the owners and the people above me allow me to continue to produce performances like that for the supporters but to produce the players.

‘It’s not ideal but we’ve got to be as professional as we could possibly be.’

Meanwhile, Blackpool’s interim head coach Stephen Dobbie spoke on his side’s 1-0 defeat to Stockport, the result being the Seasiders seeing run of defeats away from home extended to six games.

Reflecting on the game, he said, per Blackpool Gazette: “The character of the lads was unbelievable. I think coming to a play like this when they’re flying high, we had to sit in for the first half an hour and defend our box. Olly (Casey) and Michael (Ihiekwe) were phenomenal – winning every header and fighting.

“As the half went on, we started to push for winners higher up the pitch, which forced them back.

“We managed to contain them until half time. I thought the boys were fantastic in the second half, they gave everything.

“We just need to work on that last little bit at the end. Getting a little bit more composure and technique is the aim.

“It’s disappointing to concede from a corner. We win the first header and then it’s the second phase we don’t deal with. It’s been the story of the season so far, but I can’t fault the lad’s efforts.

“It’s our job to make sure it doesn’t become a mental thing. I just said to them, if we keep the fight and the effort, and we keep the team spirit, then the results will change, I’ve got no doubt about that.

“It’s a collective effort. It’s not just on the players, it’s on the staff to make sure we come in every day and make sure they’re ready.”

A poll reveals who Blackpool fans want as their new manager as the shortlist to replace Steve Bruce emerges, with Matt Bloomfield linked. Here’s what social media users are saying…

@cspvisualz: I’d take Matt Bloomfield, no real failure in this league and a big success. Could take us up but be controversial at first

@Nxozane_: Why did he fail at Luton?

@cspvisualz: it was a sinking ship in the championship and a relegated squad is never gonna be easy to manage in league one yet still they were 4 points of play offs when he was sacked

@retro_seasider: If there’s any truth in this I don’t think I can go back

@DanFrank585: Jumping job to job is a worry

@BramTheBpoolFan: Liam Richardson wud b a disastrous choice for manager. His track record is woeful, if he really is the no 1. Choice then this season will be a very low point in our history. Just when you thought we were going places, as usual the rugs pulled from under our feet. Typical Blackpool

@Nxozane_: The likes of honeyman, brown and Ennis will regret very quickly

@robmoss1989: I don’t remember any of this positivity when Bloomfield was announced. It just goes to show how shit the appointment was right from the get go.

@AnythingBFC (after Luton appoint Wilshere): And we are going for the likes of Leam Richardson. There’s the difference a club who’s taking a risk and a club who’s taking the cheap and safe option. The only time we have taken a risk was Critchley first time round and look how good that was…. #utmp

Tr33frog: Be a good appointment that

bfcpete: Moved quite a bit in a short managerial career and never been based up north. Rather have Wellens

Davepick:
A real ‘fit in’.
‘Bloomfield of Bloomfield Rd.’

A_Tense_Grin: Type of appointment that shows where we are as a club.

Tangerine1953!: I’ll back any manager that gets the job at Blackpool. But if we want to be serious about going up and being an established championship club we need to be going after the best managers in our division. We always seem to take the easy option

Robbosa: It make too much sense … I can defo see this happening

Critchknows: Let’s be real, id much prefer Wellens. That aside, he did quite well at Wycombe especially the end where they were up there albeit the first few months of his reign not so much. He plays football in a more modern possession based attacking way and he uses wingers The negative is that Luton fans hated him even though his record there wasn’t abysmal but was quite indifferent. That probably sums up how I feel about him actually. Indifferent. Not so bad id be p*ssed off but not really getting me sitting up and taking notice.