Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Liam Bridcutt has completed a free transfer to Blackpool.
The two-time Scotland international returns to the Championship for the first time since leaving the City Ground in the summer of 2019 after three years of calling the club home. Bridcutt made 31 appearances for the Reds, primarily during the 2017/18 season.
A regular while Mark Warburton was manager, the midfielder fell out of favour once Aitor Karanka arrived mid-season and went on to spend the following season on loan at Bolton Wanderers. A temporary move to Lincoln City also followed, which was soon made permanent and where the 33-year-old had stayed until failing to agree on a contract extension this summer following the departure of manager Michael Appleton.
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Bridcutt's decision to leave Lincoln was made public by the club just 10 days after Appleton had been appointed as Blackpool's new head coach to replace the Aston Villa-bound Neil Critchley. The midfielder has now belatedly ended up following his former boss to the coastal town.
An initial one-year contract has been signed with the Seasiders, plus an agreement that the deal includes the option for an additional year extension. Speaking to the club's website since signing, Bridcutt has admitted a desire to "repay" the trust and faith put in him by Appleton.
“I’m excited to be here and working with the manager again," Bridcutt said. "He was brilliant for me over the last two years - he put a lot of trust and faith in me - and I now want to come here and repay that. We’ve got a good understanding in terms of what he wants from his teams and his players day-to-day. I get that, and it’s how I work and how I’ve always worked. He knows what I’m like and what he can get out of me.”
Are you surprised to see Bridcutt back in the Championship? Have your say in the comments...
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