Blackpool turn to Fleetwood to fill secretary gap

The Seasiders were left with a big hole to fill in their set-up when secretary Nick Alford announced he would be moving to South Wales to take a job in rugby union later this month.

After interviews earlier this week, Pool swooped for their League One neighbours’ football co-ordinator, who left the Highbury club immediately.

Cowdy, a former football agent, has worked at Fleetwood Town for the last 14 months.

It’s understood that Cowdy met Karl Oyston at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday, when plans for the future and for his duties at the club were discussed.

While the role of previous secretaries at Bloomfield Road was mainly administrative, it’s believed that Oyston wants Cowdy to be much more involved in the football set-up.

Chairman Oyston said: “I am delighted that Alex has accepted the position and I look forward to working with him.

“He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked on both sides of the game, and was the ideal candidate to replace Nick.

“It was essential that we had a seamless transition at such an important stage of the season.”

On his appointment, Alex Cowdy said: “I feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to join Blackpool FC as club secretary and I can’t wait to get started.

“I look forward to carrying on the good work Nick Alford has done in football administration and operations this season.”

On the field, Blackpool are building to a crucial eight days in their season, with tomorrow’s home clash with Coventry quickly followed by trips to two of the sides currently beneath them in League One’s bottom four, Oldham (Tuesday) and Crewe (Saturday).

Manager Neil McDonald knows victory tomorrow could lift Pool out of the drop zone and he is anxious to bounce back from the 3-0 defeat at Millwall.

The Pool boss said: “We have analysed everything in depth but we don’t go over board. We are constantly looking at ways to improve.”