Terry McPhillips has revealed the first aim for the Seasiders is promotion, despite not being amongst the fancied side in League One, as reported by the Blackpool Gazette.

Blackpool finished the last campaign in tenth placed and never looked troubled by relegation in a season that saw any one of 12 still in dire straits entering April.

They launched a rather audacious push for the top six and although they didn't quite make it, they certainly had a season to be proud of. Not only did they do well on the field, but off the field Owen Oyston was ousted and the supporters returned to Bloomfield Road.

McPhillips, when quizzed about his aims for next season, confirmed that first and foremost Championship football has to be the focus.

“Everyone wants to get promoted, don’t they? That’s key, whichever way you can do it," said the former Blackburn assistant.

He did go on to outline the main issues preventing them from achieving their goals, mainly the level of investment needed to compete at the top. Last season Sunderland spent £1m on Charlie Wyke and £4m on Will Grigg, whilst Peterborough have already spent a seven-figure sum on a striker this summer.

“Some of that will depend on finances in terms of what we can get to spend and to invest, but we’ve kept a large core of the group together.

“We’ve added some from outside, Nathan Delfouneso has signed on again and we’ve got other irons in the fire. Hopefully, we can get some of them over the line and push on.”

Blackpool have recently been taken over by lifelong supporter Simon Sadler, which it is hoped will be the catalyst for an influx of players capable of taking them to the next level.

McPhillips is about to embark on his first full season as a manager, having only progressed to the top job after Gary Bowyer left at the beginning of last season. Prior to that, he's been assistant to Bowyer at both Blackpool and Blackburn.

The Verdict

League One is becoming a division of the haves and have nots. At the top, the former Championship sides with good budgets and aspirations of climbing higher.

At the bottom, a number of clubs coming out of League Two with modest budgets and a fighting spirit. Then, in the middle of the pack, you have established sides such as Blackpool.

They have enough draw to ensure they're not in the bottom four, but do they have the financial clout to break into the top six?

Charlton proved last season a canny manager can do it on a budget but is Terry McPhillips that man? On last season's impressive showing, I believe he is.