Blackpool defender Tony McMahon: 'Pre-season has not been ideal'

Blackpool defender Tony McMahon has admitted that his side's preparations for the new season have been less than ideal.

The Seasiders had been preparing for their Championship campaign with just eight first-team players registered following a clearout at the club in May.

"Obviously it hasn't been ideal, but as footballers we can only do our job and that is to play football," McMahon told Sky Sports News.

"The manager asked us to report back in July and we've done that and we've worked hard every day and we just keep getting on with it, and hopefully we do see a few more new faces.

"The manager's got his own ideas of how he wants to play, and like I say, the quicker we get the players in and we all get used to each other and the manager cements how he wants to play then the sooner the better."

New manager Jose Riga has seen his squad bolstered to 13 this week with five new arrivals, though he is still without a goalkeeper going into the season opener against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground next Saturday.