BLACKPOOL'S management team were back at Bloomfield Road this week as final preparations began for pre-season training.

Seasiders stars will be back at Squires Gate in the first week in July and assistant manager, Billy Dearden has returned from holiday to join manager, Colin Hendry and coach, Ian Miller for final presentations.

Squad strengthening will be amongst the top priorities for the trio, with talks continuing with players and clubs over possible moves.

One player whose Bloomfield Road career is in the balance is central defender, Steve Elliott, linked this week with Bristol Rovers.

The out of contract former Derby man is still considering his options, despite tabloid newspaper reports that he had already agreed to drop a division and join the Memorial Ground outfit.

If he leaves, central defence will become an even bigger priority for the new management team, with Mike Flynn the only specialist centre-half under contract.

The much-anticipated pre-season game against Preston North End has been called off. Hendry says he has consulted with the Bloomfield Road ground staff and decided the pitch needs more preparation time before the new season. A visit to Dundee United on July 28 will take place instead.

Blackpool will complete their pre-season programme with a game against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, July 31. They also play three games in Northern Ireland and visit Darlington's New Stadium in the build up to the big kick-off.

Fixtures for next season's Coca Cola League One (Division Two to the rest of the world) are due to be released today (Thursday). One unfamiliar name on the fixture list will be Milton Keynes Dons, the former Wimbledon FC having been renamed after their move to the Buckinghamshire new town. Football fans from across the country have been boycotting visits to the club, dubbed Franchise FC, since the move. The Dons are managed by Fleetwood-born Stuart Murdoch.