Wednesday 8 April 2015 13:48, UK
Lee Clark feels Blackpool can win back the support of their fans after what he admits has been an ‘horrendous season’.
The Tangerines will be a Sky Bet League One side next season having been relegated just four years after a season as a Premier League side.
Before the 1-1 draw with Reading, Blackpool’s first game since their relegation was confirmed, disgruntled fans threw eggs at the directors box and launched a flare, smoke bomb and fireworks in front of the main entrance to the West Stand as a protest against chairman Karl Oyston.
Some of those fans did not even enter the ground and missed a contest short on incident, with Grant Hall's own goal 20 seconds after the restart earning the Royals a point following Jamie O'Hara's opening goal from the penalty spot.
Clark accepts it has been a dismal campaign for the club but is confident the fans will come back to watch an overhauled squad next season.
"We're down a level and that's going to be hard," he said of getting fans back through the turnstiles at Bloomfield Road.
"We've obviously had a horrendous season to put up with, but if we do it right with our recruitment process over the summer, we do things in the right way and get the right type of players in - then they can come and watch us over the pre-season and see a new group of players that they can get excited about that we can get them back on to the seats.
"The only way we can do that is by getting a group together that's going to give us a fighting chance to get back up and we hit the ground running at the start of the season."
Those that did opt to turn up saw bottom-of-the-table Blackpool gain a third successive draw to move to 25 points, one away from the lowest ever total accrued by a side in the second tier when there have been 24 teams.
Following the confirmation of their relegation, Clark was keen to produce a performance for the long-suffering Seasiders faithful.
"It was important that we did put on a lively performance because with the news (on Monday) it has been tough for everybody, but more importantly it's been tough for the supporters," he stressed.
"I just thought it was important we gave them some kind of performance. I just wish we could have got a victory."
