Former Blues boss Mick McCarthy has been confirmed the new head coach of Championship Blackpool with his Town assistant Terry Connor joining him at Bloomfield Road.

The 63-year-old has been appointed for the remainder of the season following the sacking of Michael Appleton and his assistant, one-time Town full-back David Kerslake, yesterday.

McCarthy had been out of work since leaving Cardiff in October 2021 having taken charge of the Welshmen in January the same year.

“I'm delighted to be here, I'm delighted to be back in the game,” he told the Tangerines official website.

“I'm thrilled to be back up at a club where I've had many battles in the past and hopefully we can achieve some of the similar success of those years.”

Blackpool chief executive Ben Mansford said: “Since [owner] Simon [Sadler] took over, everyone connected to the club has worked so hard to get us to the Championship and it is so important we do all we can to stay there.

“We believe appointing Mick gives us that opportunity. Mick has extensive experience at the highest level including over 700 games at Premier League and Championship level, along with recently taking on a similar challenge at Cardiff.

“From the initial contact with Mick, you sensed an excitement to come to Blackpool yet a calmness and confidence about the job ahead.

“Mick referred to our superb support from the first conversation and how important the fans will be for the remaining 19 games, starting against Huddersfield on Saturday.”

“This appointment gives us the best opportunity to maintain our Championship status. As a club, it also gives us the time to look towards the long-term vision as we continue to plan for an exciting future here at Blackpool Football Club.”

McCarthy was Town manager from November 2012 until April 2018. Since leaving Portman Road, the former central defender has had a second spell in charge of the Republic of Ireland and a short stint as boss of Cypriot side APOEL.

Photo: Action Images

RobITFC added 18:34 - Jan 19 Blackpool on their way to League one - be careful what you wish for!
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Steelmonkey added 18:38 - Jan 19 Move along nothing to see here.
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Marcus added 18:54 - Jan 19 Good luck. Excellent man manager. Wrong fit for us.
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boltzak added 18:58 - Jan 19 Couldn't wish for a better manager to get you out of trouble. Good luck.
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Umros added 19:00 - Jan 19 Hooooooofffff!
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SheptonMalletBlue added 19:21 - Jan 19 I wonder if Dino has seen our attendances recently! Worst manager in Town's history!!!
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prebbs007 added 19:42 - Jan 19 That's them relegated then !
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VanDusen added 19:55 - Jan 19 I predict if only one of our teams is in the Championship next year it won't be us.
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Billericay12 added 19:57 - Jan 19 Football has moved on and he hasn't moved with it. 4-4-2, work hard, hoof it up to the big centre forward and fight for the 2nd ball doesn't cut the mustard these days. Have to admire his loyalty to TC though !
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itfchorry added 20:11 - Jan 19 Sorry Shepton - wrong button Will never forgive his reminder of the score At Naridge- Same to you Dino ✌️
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BurleysGloryDays added 20:27 - Jan 19 Knows the game well. Make shrewd signings on a shoestring. Can get results. Can sometimes make you chuckle at a conference. Otherwise presided over the total destruction of joy and entertainment from a football perspective, decimated attendances, and divided the fan base. I feel sorry for any Blackpool fan that used to like watching their team play the beautiful game. Sell your midfielders, you won't need them.

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04willr added 21:09 - Jan 19 Jay Tabb to come out of retirement. Proper player Tabby. Go on Mick.
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USA added 21:21 - Jan 19 I expect he might come and look at our squad for a signing or two to bolster their defence
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barrystedmunds added 21:27 - Jan 19 VanDusen, you Need to get on the Blackpool site and pay homage to your hero
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davidsuperg added 21:30 - Jan 19 Well done Blackpool. He'll keep you up but bring a pillow to your games as you'll be asleep by half time.
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Bazza8564 added 22:04 - Jan 19 Was on 800k a year here and it looks to me like an old comic playing another gig before the the curtain falls for the last time. When I look at the young man we've got here, what he is doing for our club terms of the vision, planning and principles, it reminds me of how far we've come and what a sh** show these guys have to look forward to. Yes, he might keep you up once, but hes in it for the money and one last hurrah and he'll have nothing on his mind other than cashing in and cashing out. I give him 10-15 months tops. Seems really sad that there are young English managers well qualified for jobs and getting nowhere against the "Frank Carson" of the EFL

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Cadiar added 22:23 - Jan 19 Blackpool's average attendances around 11,000 so MM joining them should bring that down to about 8000. He certainly never made me chuckle, just bored me to death exactly like the so called football we were supposed to be playing, expect Jonathon Douglas to come out of retirement, no one better at passing anywhere but forward. Blackpool should suit the dinosaur in the spring, deck chair on the beach with the donkeys. He tried Cyprus but too warm. Wonder if he'll remain living in London.

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pg888 added 23:20 - Jan 19 Can't slate the man he is good at what he does. Had Evans backed him he would have had a real shot at taking us to the prem not scraping 6th. As negative as the football was there is a reason he left and we are where we are now!
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blueboy1981 added 06:01 - Jan 20 You may have have needed help Blackpool ! - well, you certainly DO now !!
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1RWR added 08:25 - Jan 20 There's some miserable bleeders on here! Just wish the guy well, had Evans given MM serious money then the quality would have been better. Yes MM is another well travelled manager, all Blackpool want is championship survival, hopefully MM will give them that. Before you say “did you see us play under MM” yes I did, it was dire in the extreme but not his fault entirely. Rant over😜

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Michael101 added 08:55 - Jan 20 Anyone in the Blackpool area suffering from insomnia now have the perfect cure get down to the game , fall asleep in 4 minute's
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VanDusen added 09:14 - Jan 20 Anyway - McCarthy versus Evans tomorrow I see.
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chepstowblue added 10:23 - Jan 20 A brilliant man. Organized, no nonsense, totally unpretentious. Not many could have come into our decaying club when he did and kept us up. To win games of football with 25% of possession is an art. Nowadays we can't win games with 70%....but we're all happy watching the back four knock the ball around in a meaningless manner just to bolster the stats. As a Blackpool fan I'd be content in the knowledge that my keeper won't be p*ssing about with it in his own 6yard box and corners will be delivered into the box as opposed to going back to the halfway line. Don't get me wrong, the current set up at the club is excellent, but Mick deserves the opportunity to pit his wits against the young breed. My money's on Mick. Good luck to him.

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SussexTractor added 18:08 - Jan 20 Some disingenuous comments about Mick. Fans forget that he saved the club from relegation in the first place and we didn't go down under his watch. He was also constrained by a lack of financial support from Evans.
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