Blackpool have received a major boost with the news that John Murphy, Mike Flynn, Leam Richardson, Lee Jones and Gareth Evans have all agreed new deals.
Striker Murphy was strongly tipped to leave Bloomfield Road, but now he has accepted the club's offer to use their option for another year on him.
"I am pleased to say both Mike Flynn and Leam Richardson have signed and the club have exercised their options with the players approval, I hasten to add, on John Murphy, Lee Jones and Gareth Evans," said Seasiders chairman Karl Oyston (pictured).
"They will be staying and we have held discussions with several other key and fringe players, with a view to either exercising the options or giving them a new deal.
"Following the news the the club had taken up their option on a couple of players, we caught up with striker John Murphy."
Oyston also confirmed he will draw up a shortlist for Steve McMahon's replacement later this week.
"I think we will see what happens with applications for the manager's job for probably the balance of the week and then draw up a final shortlist, although you would never rule anyone out who you felt suitable for the job who came in after that time and then we will start have first interviews," added Oyston to the club's official website.
"It is my intention to interview the people who we are considering for the post, and then go off and do our homework and check the references and certainly do the required amount of research and then interview them again, with a view to making an appointment."
