Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has refused to rule out making a bid for Fleetwood's highly-rated striker Jamie Vardy.
Non-league striker attracting attention from league clubs
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has refused to rule out making a bid for Fleetwood's highly-rated striker Jamie Vardy.
The 25-year-old was excellent against the Seasiders in the FA Cup for the non-league side, as he notched his 18th goal of a prolific season to further raise his stock.
Indeed, it was that type of performance which has reportedly led to clubs such as West Ham and Celtic casting admiring glances at the striker.
And when he was asked if Blackpool would be launching a bid for Vardy, Holloway's answer was very much ambiguous but he paid tribute to the work his opposite number Micky Mellon had done with the player.
"I don't want to be disrespectful. If I am interested in him, then I will talk to the right people," he told the
Blackpool Gazette.
Class act
"But what a wonderful player, and it makes you wonder why clubs didn't sign him up sooner. He looked a class act. I have never seen anyone run as beautifully in my life.
"You have to give Micky credit. Micky is the kind of manager who is able to make his players feel as though they are 16 feet tall and obviously his work with that boy has made him what he is.
"They are lucky to have him and if they keep hold of him, God knows where they could end up."
Holloway, too, has experienced the strain of fending off interest for his leading players.
Sharks
This time last year, the Lancashire side were making a real impression on the Premier League before interest in Charlie Adam mushroomed and culminated in them battling to hang onto their playmaker.
"It is difficult when bigger clubs come after your players," he added. "I experienced that myself with Charlie Adam last year.
"There will be sharks swimming around trying to bite pieces out of Vardy and take him away.
"You've just got to give Andy Pilley and Micky Mellon credit for getting a wonderful asset at their football club."
