Source: FOOTYMAD
Seasiders set to land Chris Basham, Ollie signs
Basham, a Bolton trainee, has made six starts and seven appearances off the bench for the Trotters. Blackpool look likely to sign utility midfielder Chris Basham from Bolton after the club's manager Owen Coyle said he was willing to sell the player.Basham, 22, was the subject of a bid from Blackpool boss Ian Holloway on Friday, which Wanderers rejected.But it now appears that Basham, who can play in midfield or defence, will be allowed to move if the bid is improved."Ollie and I had a chat the other day and it looks like it has moved on now and that will probably happen on Thursday.""The likelihood is that Chris Basham will sign for Blackpool with us getting a fee in return for that," Coyle said. "He is a player we like and we value here but I had to be fair to him, because his chances have been limited here. "Morally, I felt I had to give him the opportunity if he wanted to play week-in week-out.Blackpool signed striker Marlon Harewood on Wednesday, one of five new arrivals to join the Seasiders on the same day. Manchester United's Northern Ireland defender Craig Cathcart, 21, joined for an undisclosed fee. Blackpool also acquired the French trio of ex-Barcelona trainee Ludovic Sylvestre, 26, former Marseille player Elliot Grandin, 22, and Malaury Martin, 21, who was last with Monaco.Holloway key to Cathcarts Seasiders switch.Craig Cathcart admits Ian Holloway's infectious personality played a major role in his decision to join Blackpool.Cathcart, 21, was officially unveiled at Bloomfield Road on Wednesday after arriving from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.The defender signed a three-year deal with the option for a further year having been impressed by Holloway, Blackpool's colourful manager, who has scotched rumours he was about to resign by committing his future to the club."I'm sure all of the players love him because I've only known him a few days and he is growing on me a lot," Cathcart said. "He is one of the main reasons I have come here. He wanted me to come and he is passionate about what he wants to do here."Despite rising through the ranks at Old Trafford after joining as a trainee, Cathcart never made a senior appearance for United and is now hoping for a run in Blackpool's starting XI that will also boost his chances of winning a first cap for Northern Ireland."At this stage of my career I need to be playing football matches, so hopefully coming here will give me the opportunity to play a lot of first-team games," he said. "I haven't had a cap so far at full international level, so if I'm in the team every week in the Premier League then it is going to be hard for the manager not to look at me and hopefully he will put me in the squad."Holloway backs Oystons approachHe has given his backing to the way chairman Karl Oyston runs Blackpool and says he feels "solid" in his position as manager.Holloway is reported to have agreed a new contract with the Seasiders, just days after rumours spread that he was about to quit Bloomfield Road due to his frustration with the club's strict wage structure.Since then the 47-year-old has ridiculed speculation he might resign, while Blackpool have announced the signing of five new players - with Bolton's Chris Basham expected to soon be confirmed as a sixth.With their squad strengthened for the first time this summer and the relationship between their manager and chairman apparently harmonious, suddenly things are looking more positive for the Tangerines ahead of their maiden Barclays Premier League campaign, which gets under way on Saturday with a trip to Wigan.Referring to Oyston, Holloway said: "The fact that he is so steadfast in his views makes me feel solid, the fact that he is loyal to his managers makes me feel solid and the fact that he has run this club better, I believe, than any other chairman on this planet has made it difficult, because financially we are not at this level - even though we have got a big shiny pot of cash that we will get by the end of four years' time."
