Ferguson ready to begin a new chapter after settling by the sea exclusive

Group Sports Content Editor

Friday 22 July 2011

BARRY FERGUSON, the former Rangers and Scotland captain, has agreed a two-year contract at npower Championship club Blackpool.

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The 33-year-old midfielder had been in discussions with the club after successfully completing a medical on Tuesday. He finally agreed the move that will see him join from Birmingham City a club that, like Blackpool, had been relegated from the Barclays Premier League last season into the second tier of English football. Ferguson admitted the appeal of working with the club’s charismatic manager Ian Holloway had played a huge part in his decision.

He will now occupy the central midfield position vacated by his former team-mate at Ibrox, Charlie Adam, who departed Blackpool earlier this month for Liverpool in a transfer worth close to £9m.“I am really looking forward to the new challenge after two good years at Birmingham,” Ferguson said. “I had lengthy talks with the manager, Ian Holloway, and he is the kind of guy who makes an immediate impact on you. The way he comes across on TV is exactly what he is like when you meet face to face. “He is very passionate and sold the club to me. The aim is to get straight back into the Premiership and I’ll be doing everything I can to help Blackpool achieve that. It’s going to be a tough season with so many good sides in the Championship vying for the three promotion places, but we have a good squad and the manager is hungry to get back up at the first time of asking. I’ve been impressed with the club, the way the manager wants to play and it’s another new chapter for me.”Ferguson had several offers in England and abroad, but the move to Blackpool will also allow him to commute easily to his family home just outside Lanark. His wife and children remained there throughout the duration of his time in the Midlands, and still being able to return to Scotland with relative ease was important in his decision making process.“It’s only a couple of hours’ drive and that was also an important factor,” added Ferguson. “It’s never ideal being away from your family as a footballer, but I was always given full support from them throughout my time at Birmingham and we managed to work the situation without any problems.“Moving to Blackpool will allow that to continue. That was always very important to me.”

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Ferguson ready to begin a new chapter after settling by the sea exclusive

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