IT is mid-July, the sun is shining and, believe it or not, Blackpool FC are less than a week from their first game of the season.

Steve McMahon's side take to the field at Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground on Tuesday night, with a strong squad expected to take to the field against the newly promoted Nationwide Conference outfit.

"We have a squad of players and a squad of players will be involved," said McMahon at the launch of the club's sponsorship deal with the Life Repair Group on Tuesday.

"Again, you don't pay too much attention to results, it's all about fitness and gearing up for the QPR game."

The early stages of pre-season training are going well, according to McMahon, with the emphasis firmly on getting players back to peak fitness. McMahon says he is hopeful of recruiting another three or four quality players before the season begins on August 9, though no deals are expected imminently.

After the Accrington game, the Seasiders head for the Isle of Man, where they will play Burnley, Wrexham and another club in the international tournament.

Former Seasider stalwart, Ian Hughes, is hoping to earn a contract at third division Huddersfield. The ex-Pool skipper is on trial with the Terriers, who are attempting to rebuild after relegation last season. New Huddersfield manager, Peter Jackson, has also signed former Seasiders target, Jon Newby, on a free transfer from Bury.

The Seasiders are still waiting on Barnsley striker, Mike Sheron. He is still a Steve McMahon target, but a deal is unlikely to be done until he can settle a financial dispute with his old club, who are believed to owe him several months salary after falling into administration. The Oakwell outfit were taken over by a new consortium last week.

Seasiders fans are being asked to get behind Oldham Athletic as the second division club attempt to stave off bankruptcy. former Seasiders Ian Marshall and Rick Holden are amongst the players expected to take part in a special friendly match at Boundary Park on Saturday to raise cash for the supporter's trust which is trying to take over the ailing club.

Blackpool will not be signing Burnley keeper, Marlon Beresford, who has chosen to take a player-coaching role with York City, a club closer to his Harrogate home. Beresford was strongly linked with the Seasiders earlier in the summer.