BLACKPOOL Football Club's Squires Gates training ground might bare little resemblance to Rovers' plush facilities at Brockhall, but that doesn't bother Tony Parkes, who started his new job as the Tangerines' assistant manager yesterday.
Parkes has accepted an invitation to help out Pool caretaker boss Simon Grayson and he was looking forward to getting 'back to basics' on the Fylde coast.
"I think it's going to be a bit of a throw-back to what Blackburn was like 12 or 13 years ago," said the Rovers legend.
"Back in those days, before anything was built at Brockhall, we'd be always making phonecalls trying to find somewhere to train.
"The people who are at the club now probably think Blackburn has always had magnificent facilities but it was very different back then and, in many ways, those were happier days because I don't think there was quite as much pressure."
Parkes is also relishing the chance to work with Grayson, who he knows, of course, from their time together at Rovers.
"Simon's very down to earth and he desperately wants to get the job on a permanent basis so, hopefully, I can help him achieve that," added Parkes.
"The chairman has already allowed him to do a bit of wheeling and dealing."
Parkes will have recognised a few familiar faces when he started work as Blackpool have a number of current and ex-Rovers players in their squad, including Gary Harkins, Ciaran Donnelly and Jason Wilcox, the latter joining on loan.
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