Stephen Dobbie has taken charge of Blackpool Football Club’s first team for Easter Monday’s trip to Luton and the remainder of the season, assisted by Matt Blinkhorn and Steve Banks. Dobbie, who started his career at Rangers before turning out for the likes of Hibs, St Johnstone, Queen of the South, Swansea, and Crystal Palace, had four separate loan spells at Blackpool during his long career.

Dobbie will now aim to keep the Seasiders in the Championship as they bid to fight off relegation to League One. Blackpool sit second bottom of the table after Friday’s defeat at home to Cardiff.

This appointment comes after Mick McCarthy parted company with Blackpool after just 14 games with the club deep in Championship relegation trouble.

The veteran tactician and long-term assistant Terry Connor, who were appointed in January until the end of the season, departed in the wake of Friday’s 3-1 home defeat by Cardiff. That loss against the former Republic of Ireland boss’ last club left the Seasiders seven points adrift of safety with six games to play.

A Club statement said: ‘Blackpool can confirm Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor have both left the club by mutual consent. With results on the pitch not improving in recent weeks, the decision has been agreed by both parties that a change is needed. The club would like to thank both Mick and Terry for their efforts and wish them well for the future.’