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+----- Thread: Wrong end of the M55 News (/showthread.php?tid=12437)
RE: Wrong end of the M55 News - themaclad - 06-05-2025
Blackpool have released veteran striker Jordan Rhodes and Jake Daniels, the only openly gay professional footballer in English football.
Rhodes, 35, scored 15 goals in 50 league appearances for the League One side and ended the season on loan with third tier rivals Mansfield Town.
Fellow striker Daniels, 20, came out in May 2022 shortly after making his only senior appearance for the club.
The Seasiders are in discussions with defender Matthew Pennington, 30, and midfielder Sonny Carey, 27, about extending their contracts.
Daniels posted on Instagram: "To all the fans who believed in me, supported me through a crazy few years, I want to thank you.
"Thanks to all the staff for supporting me through 13 years of getting me to the point I am at today, and thank you for all my teammates who have been on the journey with me.
"I have people to prove wrong. My career is only just starting."
Defender Jordan Gabriel, 26, and midfielder Oliver Norburn, 32, and Josh Onomah, 28, are also leaving the Lancashire side.
Steve Bruce's side finished ninth in League One, 11 points off the play-off places.
RE: Wrong end of the M55 News - themaclad - 04-06-2025
Blackpool have boosted their defensive options for next season with a double swoop for out of contract Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe.
Steve Bruce's League One outfit have snapped up 28-year-old Horsfall on a four-year deal following the end of a spell at third tier rivals Stockport County.
And they have also added 32-year-old Ihiekwe following his release by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.
"We're delighted to get someone of Fraser's calibre signed early as he demonstrates the leadership qualities we're looking for to compete at the top end of this division," Bruce told the club website, external.
"And [with Michael] his CV speaks for itself with four promotions from this division already. We are hopeful his experience will help us reach our goals this season."
Horsfall narrowly missed out on promotion with Stockport, who lost on penalties in the play-off semi-finals to Leyton Orient.
But the former County captain has reset his sights on promotion with Blackpool next season as he prepares to join Steve Bruce's squad.
"With the size of this club they shouldn't be in this league, so the main goal is promotion," said Horsfall.
Ihiekwe joins the Seasiders on a three-year deal from 1 July with four promotions from League One under his belt, three with Rotherham and most recently with the Owls back in 2023.