BLACKPOOL chiefs were this week drawing up a hit-list of potential Bloomfield Road bosses as the first round of interviews came to an end.

Around 10 candidates are believed to have spoken to chairman, Karl Oyston, and his deputy, Peter Whitehead, in the last two weeks.

The pair are now taking up references and examining the credentials of the most impressive candidates in preparation for a further set of talks.

Three or four applicants are expected to come back to Bloomfield Road for more discussions within a matter of days, and can expect to be grilled on their plans for the club's promotion bid. They may also be joined at the interview by the people they want to bring in as assistant bosses.

It is looking ever more likely that the new man will be unveiled in the middle of next week. Who that man will be remains anyone's guess.

One consideration may be that several candidates for the Blackpool job are also in line for the post at neighbours, Burnley, and may be reluctant to commit to the Seasiders when they still have a chance of taking a job in the first division. The Clarets are also expected to make an appointment very soon, with Steve McMahon no longer amongst the favourites.

One unsuccessful applicant for the Blackpool job, Ipswich coach, Tony Mowbray, took over at Scottish Premier League outfit, Hibernian, this week. Gudjon Thordarson, who turned down the Hibs job, is still being linked with Blackpool.

Highly rated Lincoln City boss, Keith Alexander, has dismissed reports linking him to the Blackpool post as 'tabloid speculation.'

One distraction Seasiders chiefs didn't need was Sheffield Wednesday's £50,000 bid for 27-goal striker, Scott Taylor.

Oyston dismissed the bid as 'silly' and suggested the financially troubled Yorkshire outfit were attempting to drum up interest in season tickets rather than making a serious attempt to sign Blackpool's prized asset.

A proposed pre-season friendly with Manchester City on July 24 has been called off. The premiership outfit will, instead, travel to Doncaster Rovers that day. Setting out the pre-season fixtures will be a major priority for Blackpool's new man, with most clubs now finalising their schedules.