Blackpool bolster playing stocks

Blackpool have considerably strengthened their squad on transfer deadline day, with manager Ian Holloway signing four new players.

But the best piece of business at Bloomfield Road on Monday may have been the retainment of star midfielder Charlie Adam, who attracted offers from Liverpool and Tottenham.

With Liverpool’s deadline-day bid for the midfielder rejected, Adam seemed set for an eleventh-hour switch to Tottenham after a fee was agreed upon. However, the clubs failed to lodge the necessary paperwork before the transfer window closed.

It came on the same day that the Premier League newcomers secured the signing of midfielder Andy Reid from Sunderland for an undisclosed amount.

Reid joins Holloway’s side for the remainder of the season, having made 78 appearances for Sunderland after signing from Charlton Athletic in January 2008.

The 28-year-old playmaker’s arrival excited Holloway, who described the signing as ‘perfect’ for his side.

“I think he will be perfect for us, a little dinky-do football player and we’ll have him and it won’t take me long to get him going,” Holloway said.

“I think he has gone for about 12 million pounds in the past, so that is not a bad take for us, I don’t believe.”

Holloway also secured loan deals that will see strikers James Beattie, Jason Puncheon and Sergei Kornilenko move to Bloomfield Road until the end of the season from Rangers, Southampton and Zenit St Petersburg respectively.

Holloway’s four new signings are all in contention to make their debut when Blackpool host West Ham United on Wednesday.

The former Plymouth and Leicester boss will also be delighted that Adam has remained at Blackpool, despite his desire to leave.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp admitted that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy had agreed a fee with Blackpool and revealed that paperwork stopped the deal going through.

“We were nearly there,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

“We got close, Daniel was dealing with it. He tried to do a deal and said he had agreed a deal with the club. He gave it a go and at about four minutes to 11 it looked like we had pulled it off.”

“At the last minute we needed a couple of signatures from a couple of shareholders at Blackpool and it just did not get done in time. He is a great player, a brilliant passer. He really can play, he is a great passer of the ball.”

Despite seeing potential moves to Anfield and White Hart Lane falter, Adam signalled his intent to give his all for the club in the remainder of the season.

“It’s been a crazy day,” Adam said.

“I’m still a Blackpool player and I want the Blackpool fans to know I’m totally committed to playing the best I can for the club, and I will do my best to help us achieve the highest possible league finish.”