Former Blues loanee Luke Garbutt has signed a one-year deal with fellow League One side Blackpool.

Town were keen to bring the 27-year-old, a free agent following his release by Everton, back to Portman Road on a permanent basis over the summer but after the introduction of the League One salary cap cooled their interest and signed Stephen Ward.

Sunderland were also in talks with Garbutt but were similarly hampered by the salary cap.

“I’m pleased to be here and looking forward to working under Neil Critchley,” Garbutt told the official Blackpool website.

“I really like what the head coach had to say when I spoke to him a few days ago, and he was a big factor in my move here. He’s spent the last few years at Liverpool and developed players really well, so I’m looking forward to what the future brings here.

“There’s big plans for this football club and I’m hopeful I can be a big part of what’s to come this season.”

Critchley added: “I’m delighted Luke has joined us for the upcoming season. He will bring experience to a youthful group, and he knows this division well having enjoyed a really successful season in League One last year.

“The fact he has chosen Blackpool over a number of other interested clubs, is a sign of how well the club is progressing.

“During my conversations with Luke, I felt his desire to come to Blackpool. I very much look forward to working with him, as he will be a vital member of our squad this season.”

Garbutt, who joins another former Blue Grant Ward at Bloomfield Road, made 29 starts and one sub appearance for Town during 2019/20, scoring six goals.

Photo: TWTD

ThatMuhrenCross added 12:46 - Sep 22 Feels like a proper kick in the nut sack when our top targets are joining BLACKPOOL over us!!! Dear Lord!
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Bluearmy_81 added 12:47 - Sep 22 You really are tedious in the extreme rabbit, I question why I'm wasting my time.. I saw him at mk dons away, tranmere away and Blackpool away to name 3. Can't check if he definitely played but there were other games too, please bog off
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TractorBoyOlly added 13:02 - Sep 22 No need to blub, we don't need him. Ward a more experienced head and has started well, as have the whole team. Long may it continue.
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oldegold added 13:04 - Sep 22 I am sure evans could have made a statement of intent and got Garbutt easily.I can't imagine Blackpool were better but evidently more ambitious and less penny-pinching than our great president
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Gilesy added 13:05 - Sep 22 "Bluearmy_81 added 12:47 - Sep 22 You really are tedious in the extreme rabbit" The irony!!!
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Linkboy13 added 13:07 - Sep 22 The proof is in the pudding they say. The fact that no championship clubs came in for him just about sums him up. He was a steady player for us not outstanding in any way and so it's been proved. The club have been right not to shell out big wages for him.
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Marv added 13:16 - Sep 22 Location probably played a big part in this..... Goodison Park and Bloomfield Road are only an hour apart.
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rabbit added 13:17 - Sep 22 Bluearmy_81 I do concede and can confirm that he played in all three of these matches, the fact you can't actually remember speaks volumes. Tedious in the extreme? Indeed you may be right, it is very tedious when your spurious points are so regularly queried, tedium would not come into if you changed your foul abuse and actually proved your points when queried. Also when you accuse someone of lie's and they prove their point have the good grace, as indeed I have, to respond with the concession of the facts.

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Len_Brennan added 13:27 - Sep 22 We've already missed his free kicks; I like Freddie, but his dead ball locker neither has the power or range of Garbutt. This signing has nothing to do with us; we haven't lost out to Blackpool. It's not like Garbutt wanted to go there, it's just a practical decision, at a late stage, after his transfer strategy backfired. We don't know what wages he has agreed with Blackpool, but I am pretty certain he would have been on more money had he agreed a deal with us in June or July. A few of us questioned his strategy back then, just due to the financial uncertainty around Covid, but the moment the League 1 salary cap was approved, any negotiating power he had completely disappeared. I hope he has been a prudent saver & invested wisely over the years of his Everton contract!

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Nazemariner added 13:50 - Sep 22 Wallingford...What on earth are you talking about? He is a left back/winger. He can play anywhere down the left. It couldn't be any more simple really. Whether you think he is any good or not is another matter. I'm not overly sensitive, but i came very close to reporting your comment. Please engage your brain when choosing your words.
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ringwoodblue added 13:57 - Sep 22 Luke did offer a threat in dead ball situations that seems sadly lacking in the rest of the squad but he's made his decision and good luck to him except in the two games against us.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:39 - Sep 22 Luke was ok for us - more plus than minus, although he faded a bit later on. But now we have Ward, I don't feel Luke is much of a loss. Of course, we all hope Ward will keep fit. He is certainly more solid defensively, which is primarily what a left back is there for. Despite putting a brave face on it, I suspect Luke was running out of options when he joined the Seasiders. We'll have to see whether these "big plans" for Blackpool ever materialise (shades of cynicism intended).

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Lathers added 14:51 - Sep 22 The boy wasn't the brightest tbf but he did have a wand of a left foot. Quite a surprising move, but it's only for a year. We look much more balanced with Ward at left back in our new 4-3-3 system.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 15:26 - Sep 22 As far as fading goes the whole team faded last year not just Garbutt. The fact that Blackpool have signed him shows how little room the bigger clubs in this division have. Sunderland wanted him and couldn't, Oxford where I think he was on loan the season before us would have liked him but couldn't. Same for us. Its almost as if other clubs are clearly and demonstrably affected by the wage cap after all. He would have been a good sigining.... no doubt but those saying we could have moved someone on to get him (and lets remember he has been on £25/30k a week, yes hes no doubt taken a pay cut but also still has a lifestyle to uphold)... well no we would have needed to move 3 player's on to get him in (then all whinge that Norwood, Downes or whoever got moved on to do so) and no one is (shockingly) too interested in taking on those player's we don't want.... perhaps because they were not very good last year.... some wheeling and dealing needed to shift some on..... If we are going to sacrifice anyone I'd ask if it might be Judge whos wages to squad value ratio is nowhere near what it was 12 months ago

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Saxonblue74 added 15:54 - Sep 22 He wasn't interested in signing for us else he would have done so way before the wage cap was introduced. The way these players quote their drivel parrot fashion about the greatness and huge ambition shown by their new club is really tedious. And Bluearmy81, we all wonder why you bother too!😂
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Pencilpete added 16:03 - Sep 22 I'm pretty sure a 12 month deal with Blackpool wasn't his first choice Sounds to me like he turned us and Sunderland down hoping he'd get a championship club, nobody came in we moved on and so did Sunderland and he's had to take what he can get. i'd have liked him here on a permanent deal but it hasn't happened, TBH i like Ward, i like his attitude he wants to be here and turned a championship club down to do so .... Garbutt doesn't so i'm happy

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BlueSwede added 16:05 - Sep 22 To be honest, I'd rather have Ward. I think he will be more important for us than Garbutt would have been. Yes, we might miss Garbutts freekicks, but with Ward in the side we have yet to concede a single goal in competative games this season. And that always gives you a better chance to get three points.
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BlueNomad added 16:16 - Sep 22 It's not worth biting at the rubbish BlueArmy81 spouts. It always ends with "no ambition." This season the system has changed somewhat. Ward is likely to provide more solidity than Garbutt did. I like the latter and he was one of our better performers last season but if the team functions properly this season we will score more goals than he contributed. Throw in the pay-cap situation and we clearly have less wriggle room than some of the "smaller" clubs. If it is ambition we are talking about then we really should have enough in this squad to get us up. An experienced international, former premier League player seems a fair exchange for Garbutt in helping us achieve that.

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Saxonblue74 added 16:22 - Sep 22 We won't miss hiss free kicks blueswede, we have Freddy now!!
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Bluearmy_81 added 16:26 - Sep 22 Hi Saxon, I bother because I'm trying to get town fans to be... well proper footy fans! 😂 We are a joke club, a laughing stock yet fans on here have endless patience with the cause. I think most fans are far more critical whereas town fans seem to think very rigidly, it's like they decided years ago (probably when they watched that ridiculous scripted PR exercise) that ME is alright and now they can't unthink that!! Even in the face of abject failure. Proper football fans demand better and stand up for their club. Take Blackpool. Great fans that stand up for their club in the face of a malignant owner. Recently there was a poll on fb, who were the better fans and sorry, I had to say Blackpool. Its not even close. So so poor guys (and girls.) I just hope and pray that one day you'll grow some before it's too late...

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BlueNomad added 16:33 - Sep 22 So BlueArmy81, what is YOUR actual plan for this club to progress? I hope it overcomes reality. Spend loads of money on players who then have to fit into a tight salary cap? Pick a team based on who does well in a computer game? Ignore the reality of injuries, loss of form etc and how they affect performance? Please tell us. I, and I know many others, will be interested to know how deep you think beyond shouting "zero ambition." In telling us try to avoid insulting anyone.

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ArnieM added 16:40 - Sep 22 Mr Garbutt seems more concerned about the money potentially than where he plays his football. I suspect Town offered a very reasonable deal ? Offered several offers I believe . Overall I'm much happier with Ward / a “ proper left back”, and he's got a good understanding with Sears ahead of him. Don't see we have missed much with Garbutt tbh. Just another greedy money orientated player ?

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Razor added 16:41 - Sep 22 Actually I had forgotten all about Garbutt and so had Lambo when he brought Wardie in. I quite like where we are now and do not think he will be missed.
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blues1 added 16:43 - Sep 22 Bluearmy81. It's simple really. It's better for Blackpool bcse their wage bill was much less than ours last season. Therefore they have more leeway on what they can offer. Plus, garbutt was now in a situation where he was going to be without a club at all, so undoubtedly would have taken a lot less than when we were after him, just to get a club. And with it being close to home wouldnt have to move, with all the expense of doing so. Try thinking about things rather than just looking for any excuse to slag the club off. Personally, I'm not that bothered. Yes, hes a good player, and he started well here, but frankly was poor the last couple of months. And in Ward, we have a better all round player anyway, with plenty of premier lge games under his belt. Unlike Garbutt.

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rabbit added 16:45 - Sep 22 Bluearmy_81 you don't bother, when you got the ideal opportunity, for example when a protest was arranged. Oh yes I remember now you couldn't go because it wasn't your group, so as far as you were concerned it didn't matter. Even though you promised well over a year ago you were going to organise a protest through your facebook campaign, laugh a minute!! You bottled it just face the truth.

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