The Matt Scrafton column: Many factors to consider in Ryan Hardie loan move

The Scot made just nine appearances in his debut season for Pool last term, most of those either coming from the bench or in cup competitions.

Did he show enough in what game-time he had? You’d have to say no but there could well be good reasons for that.

For a start, the style of football employed by former boss Simon Grayson didn't suit his game.

Take a glance at clips on YouTube and you’ll notice he scores most of his goals playing on the last shoulder, using his pace to get in behind.

Playing with his back to goal with very little space to manoeuvre in, it’s no great surprise he failed to succeed .

He had a far better time of it at Plymouth, where he scored seven goals in just 13 appearances to help Argyle clinch automatic promotion from League Two – just five of those 15 games were starting appearances.

Perhaps it suited the former Rangers man to come off the bench and capitalise on tired defences?

Or, as is perhaps more likely, Plymouth knew their game would suit Hardie to a tee and their style would present the Scot with chances – get the ball to the striker in the opposition box and he’ll often stick it away.

Of course, a factor in Hardie’s struggle for game-time at Blackpool was that he had a man-mountain in his way in the form of Armand Gnanduillet, who enjoyed the best season of his career.

Even when Gnanduillet isn’t on form, he’s still a huge nuisance and defensively he’s a massive help too, so Hardie was always going to find it difficult to force his way past the 18-goal forward.

There’s also Joe Nuttall to factor into the mix, another striker who endured a difficult season following a big-money summer move.

But while Nuttall was very much a Grayson signing, Hardie had already been lined up as a potential recruit prior to Terry McPhillips’ resignation.

Though Gnanduillet has now departed, the Seasiders have brought in Jerry Yates and a raft of other forward options, meaning there was no guarantee of regular game-time on the Fylde coast for Hardie for the second season running.

Loaning Hardie to a divisional rival is a cause for concern for some Blackpool fans, especially as there is no recall clause as part of the deal. However, Hardie can’t play in the two fixtures against Blackpool.

It appears Argyle wanted to bring in the striker on a permanent deal but, because of Covid and the club’s financial constraints, the Home Park outfit were unable to meet Pool’s asking price.

As it is, Hardie will spend the season in Devon before returning to Blackpool, who will then hold the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months.

Pool could opt to cash in next summer, as Rotherham did with Yates, or bring Hardie into their own plans if he has proved he can do it in the third tier.

In an ideal world, many Pool fans would have liked to see Hardie given a chance under new boss Neil Critchley, who is likely to adopt a style of play more suited to the striker’s game than Grayson did.

We don’t know what conversations have taken place behind the scenes but, given the affinity Hardie built up for Plymouth during his short stint on the south coast, perhaps he made it clear he wanted to return there.

And perhaps Pool wanted to get him off the wage bill with an eye on the salary cap that looks like it will be introduced soon.

In other news, it’s a huge shame to see Blackpool lose highly-rated youngster Tony Weston, the 16-year-old who has opted to turn down a professional contract and sign for Rangers instead.

The Seasiders will want to keep hold of their best young talents but on this occasion couldn’t stop Weston leaving.

We await official confirmation of Blackpool’s pre-season plans but it appears that games against AFC Blackpool, Bamber Bridge and Port Vale have been pencilled in.

Unfortunately they’ll have to be played behind closed doors but at least we’re edging ever closer to a return to competitive action.