Blackpool Football Club is delighted to announce that Simon Grayson is to return as first-team manager on a two-year contract.

The 49-year-old, who started his managerial career with the Seasiders, guided the club to promotion from League One in 2007, with victory over Yeovil Town in the play-off final rounding off a perfect 10-game winning run.

That achievement saw Blackpool play in the second tier of English football again for the first time in 29 years and then maintain Championship status the following year.

Since leaving the club in December 2008, Grayson has added a further three League One promotions to his CV with Leeds United, Huddersfield Town and Preston North End, as well as spent time managing Sunderland and Bradford City.

Blackpool FC Owner Simon Sadler said:

“It was important to act swiftly and appoint a new manager who can hit the ground running. Simon’s achievements at this level and above speak for themselves. He has a proven track record of getting teams promoted from this division and had great success at this club previously, building a team full of winners and leaders who set the platform for the years that followed.

“As I stated on Monday, the goal is to get this club back in the Championship within the next few years, and Simon is the man to help us achieve that.”

Manager Simon Grayson added:

“When Terry made the decision on Tuesday that he wanted to leave, the club contacted me to see whether I would be interested in coming back. After speaking to Simon, Michael and Ben, I thought it was an exciting project to come back to Blackpool and try and take the club forward, especially with the brand new optimism under the new owner.

“It’s now a new era and it’s important that we get this football club, with its fantastic history and tradition, back to some good, positive days again.”