Steve Bruce previews Blackpool's meeting with Wigan Athletic this weekend.
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00:00You mentioned Dave Whelan, junior time at Wigan.
00:02Obviously, you're the local lad who owns the club.
00:04Here, you've got a local lad who owns the club.
00:06So, obviously, the variety between those two.
00:07Yeah, they've got very, very similar traits.
00:09They've both supported the club.
00:13Both want the club to do well.
00:15Simon's a big fan, too, as much as what Dave is of Wigan.
00:20So, they're very, very common in the way they are.
00:22They want both of their clubs to do exceptionally well.
00:26So, in that respect, I've been very, very lucky to have two very, very decent owners.
00:31Have you spoken to Simon since Monday and do you expect him to pull you back here?
00:35I spoke to him yesterday.
00:37Yeah, over the phone yesterday.
00:39I don't speak to him every single day,
00:41but I think it's important that we have a relationship which is strong.
00:48I think he was as disappointed as what we all were on Saturday,
00:51that we were beaten by the far, far better team.
00:56And can we do something about it?
00:58Let's look forward to the summer and see what we can do.
01:01Yeah, you said, unless it was a miracle,
01:03it's going to be a third year in League 1 for the club.
01:04So, is Simon determined to get out?
01:06Yeah, he's determined.
01:06I think he's even more determined that he wants to take it into the Championship.
01:10That's for sure.
01:12Yeah, we don't enjoy being in Division 1.
01:14We have to be respectful that it is.
01:16And it's certainly been an eye-opener for me.
01:19The strength of some of the squads in the division has got bigger and better.
01:25If you look at Wrexham, for example, and Birmingham in particular,
01:29and then you can go down to Stockport and Huddersfield and Bolton and all these teams.
01:33Because, you know, they've all got healthy budgets and they all want to try and make a fist of it.
01:39Ollie Norburn's on at Wigan.
01:40Just to double-check, is he unable to play in this game?
01:43I think he's injured anyway.
01:45Ollie, I think he's out for the season.
01:46But, yeah, he's a lone player, so he wouldn't be eligible.
01:49Obviously, when he went, you said he's probably played his final game in Tangerine.
01:54Do you think that's still the case?
01:55Yeah, I think that's the case.
01:56I think the kid has to move on.
01:59And I think we made that decision in January, which was a big decision
02:02because we left ourselves a little bit light in the middle of the pitch.
02:05But I think it was a decision that Ollie wanted and what suits us as well.
02:11So, no, I think he's played his last game for us.
02:14And just finally, obviously, you mentioned there's going to be a big change this summer.
02:17But in terms of the outline of the team, the key players you have,
02:19that's sort of risen under you this season.
02:21Do you think you've got a good starting point?
02:22Yeah, yeah, we have a really, really good starting position.
02:25Yeah, of course.
02:26We have, as I said, when you've got lone players,
02:29there lies the biggest conundrum of all.
02:32You know, two of them in particular, the goalkeeper and Big Adele,
02:36have played probably every week since I've been here.
02:39So, it'll be interesting to see there.
02:42Big Elkin has come into the team of late.
02:44Unfortunately, he's had a lot, a lot of injuries.
02:47And then we've got, obviously, Sammy and Niall,
02:49who've helped us enormously since January.
02:52So, there's big conversations to have.
02:54Let's see what the situation is with them lads first.
02:58Then we've got the lads out of contract.
03:00So, a big summer to get your teeth into and see what we can do.
03:06All right.
03:06So, let's see.
03:07Let's see.
03:09Let's see.