GARETH BARKER IS PLANE CRAZY!

OUR youth team coach Gareth Barker is sparing no expense in his bid to turn his team's results around.

He's just installed a big-screen television in their changing-room to help his tactical team talks. In truth, the TV is probably is worth more than the training ground.

But his master-stroke came last Saturday when he and the physio turned up with....walkie-talkies!

Now this is a stroke of genius in the Premier League, where the vast crowds can make communication between the touchline and the physio treating an injured player very difficult.

But at our Squires Gate training ground, the 'crowd' usually numbers no more than 20 so it would be easy for the coach and the physio to shout to each other.

They tried out the new system on Saturday and all was going well until we had a phone call from the control tower at Blackpool Airport, which backs on to our training ground.

Hard

They were demanding to know who was messing about with walkie-talkies because the signal was interrupting their air traffic control messages. In on uncertain terms, Gareth was told to stop using them immediately!

I've had a sllghtly better week than Gareth!

First, I've just signed a new contract which will keep me at Blackpool next season. The negotiations seem to have been dragging on for months but I'm really pleased to be staying. Whether the fans will be feeling the same way remains to be seen!

Secondly, I've finally got back into full training after being out for weeks with my ligament injury.

There's nothing better than being with the boys, having a laugh and training hard, and it certainly has been hard this week. In my first session back, we were playing five-a-side and I missed a good chance so all the lads shouted: "Yes, Ben's back to full fitness now!"

We were then given a few days because it's international week - even though we don't have any internationals!

On Thursday we managed to sign our 20 and 21st loan signings of the season - Simon Walton and Lee Hughes. We've used so many players this season it's been crazy. I just hope we manage to keep a few of them for next season.

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