Premier League visit Bloomfield Road

League boss Richard Scudamore has been to Bloomfield Road to welcome Ian Holloway and Karl Oyston to the top flight.

The league's chief executive and general secretary Mike Foster examined the ground and explained the rules the Seasiders must abide by.These include a maximum squad size of 25 players, plus an unlimited pool of players under the age of 21, as well as a maximum of two loan players at any time."I think it was only when myself, Karl and Ian sat down with Richard Scudamore that it actually started to sink in that we were in the Premier League," said Pool secretary Matt Williams, who is responsible for ensuring Pool comply with all the regulations.

"We gave them a tour of the ground, and they measured the dressing rooms and were happy with them. We showed them where we propose to do the post-match TV interviews and that was fine. "They looked around the stadium, looked at the boardroom .... looked at everything really. "Obviously we have to address the press facilities and press working rooms, which will be in the east stand."We must have space for 50 journalists and 20 radio commentary positions, plus 14 camera positions around the pitch, which will double if you broadcast in 3D.

"There were also talks about the make-up of the squad. The rules are different to the Football League and will affect Holloway's dealings in the transfer market."You can have 25 players in your squad, eight of whom have to be homegrown," added Williams."A player counts as homegrown if he has been registered with any club affiliated to the English or Welsh FA for a period of three seasons prior to his 21st birthday."

That's why the likes of Chelsea or Manchester United will take foreign players into their academies at, say, 16, because when they are 19 they will be classed as homegrown. "We can have an unlimited pool of under-21s to top up the squad. This is to give young English players a chance when clubs get suspensions or injuries."

Our current squad isn't exactly blessed with a big pool of under-21s. We have Mark Halstead, Louis Almond, Stephen Husband and Ashley Eastham, so that's an area we've got to look at.

"The loan system too gives the Seasiders food for thought."We can no longer take the likes of Seamus Coleman on a three-month loan from Everton. Those days are gone," added Williams.

"There are no emergency loans in the Premier League, so it is either a window-to-window loan or season-long.

"You are allowed four per season but you can only have two loan players at any one time.

"Holloway has now gone away for a few days to work out how best to play the transfer market this summer. He has left Williams and assistant boss Steve Thompson in charge, and they have been busy...(Blackpool Gazette)