SEASIDERS' supporters will be relieved to hear that Leicester City have denied any interest in Blackpool hotshot Brett Ormerod.

The Blackpool striker has been the subject of speculation linking him with a switch to Filbert Street worth nearly £1million, but no such bid has been received.

Foxes boss Peter Taylor has cut short the rumours, insisting that there is no truth in them and that his main priority is a striker with experience of Premiership football.

At Bloomfield Road work has begun on re-levelling areas of the playing surface in preparation for the start of the coming season.

It is also intended to create an L-shaped piece of pitch which will be added on at the North end and along the West side of the existing pitch to move that playing area up to the new stands.

The current work is required to ensure a better level surface in an area which will eventually be around the edge of the North penalty area.

Assistant manager Mark Seagraves feels that the team's tour of the West of Scotland will provide the ideal environment in which to prepare for the new season.

And they got off to a flying start on Monday night with a 2-0 victory over Ayre. John Murphy opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 20 minutes and new man Neil MacKenzie added the second six minutes later.

They were playing Partick last night with a game against Clyde to follow.

Seagraves said: "The object of any pre-season game is to achieve fitness, but it is important that the teams you are up against are capable of giving you a proper test. All our opponents had excellent campaigns in their respective divisions last season, and there is always a special edge whenever English teams meet Scottish teams."

He added: "We will be trying out new things in the games, but the important factor is being properly ready for August 11."