Pre-season 'frustrating' for Blackpool boss Bruce

Steve Bruce joined Blackpool in September 2024 following the departure of Neil Critchley

Blackpool boss Steve Bruce has labelled his side's pre-season as "frustrating" ahead of their opening League One fixture at home to Stevenage on Saturday.

A total of 15 first-team players have left Bloomfield Road this summer, including Rob Apter and Sonny Carey to Charlton Athletic, while veteran Jordan Rhodes was released.

In addition to that, injuries to Crystal Palace loanee Danny Imray, Tom Bloxham, CJ Hamilton, Albie Morgan and club captain James Husband have left Bruce concerned about his squad's depth on the eve of the new campaign.

"I have to say it's been a frustrating pre-season because nobody goes to work until the big boys decide which young ones they'll allow to go out on loan and then that filters down to the Championship," Bruce told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We're still three, four, five, short of where we'd like to be.

"It was a scramble to start with people who are out of contract and I think we've recruited very well so far. Now we just need, at the top end of the pitch, some reinforcements and get ready for it."

Despite admitting his current squad was in need of new faces, Bruce wants to see his side improve on their ninth-placed finish last term ahead of his 27th season in club management.

"We've got to be there or thereabouts in the play-offs. We've got to be in the top six," he added.

"I'm not trying to put any pressure on anybody but that's what we all want, that's what I've told the players that we've brought in."

Meanwhile, one of Bruce's nine new summer recruits, goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, said his new boss was a big influence in why he joined the Tangerines on a season-long loan from Birmingham City.

"When you meet him here in person, you just get that energy, that aura off him. Within a minute, you're [saying] right I'm signing," he said.

"That's credit to the club to have a manager of that kind of calibre working for us.

"It's simple, it's clear and as footballers that's what you need and that's when you thrive, when there's that clarity.

"What that makes is a solid team that knows what we're all doing so, hopefully, everything like that will hold us in good stead."