Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit issues "excited" claim on Blackpool and Steve Bruce ahead of 2025-26 | OneFootball

Bruce has done an excellent job so far and has provided reason to be optimistic for next season.

When Steve Bruce was appointed by Blackpool back in September, there were plenty of eyebrows raised across the EFL as he dropped into the third tier of English football management for the first time in his career.

However, the former Aston Villa and Sunderland boss has done a stellar job so far during his time with the Tangerines.

After a brief rocky spell throughout October and November, Blackpool have propelled themselves up the table with an impressive run in the second half of the season.

They have been in play-off form since December and, although they ultimately finished some way short of the top six at the end of the season, there are surely plenty of reasons to be positive at Bloomfield Road ahead of next term.

Don Goodman: Steve Bruce has done an excellent job - Blackpool should be optimistic for 2025-26

It’s fair to say that Bruce has proven plenty of people wrong with the turnaround he has overseen this season.

With the attention of clubs generally having switched towards younger, more progressive coaches in recent years, it has placed further scrutiny on bosses like Bruce, who typically employ more traditional, pragmatic styles.

However, since he stepped into the role at the start of the season, it’s hard to argue with what the 64-year-old has achieved.

His Blackpool side steadily climbed the table, and despite perceptions of his style, only Birmingham found the net on more occasions in League One this term.

With that in mind, Don Goodman believes there is every reason for the Tangerines’ fans to be optimistic heading into next season.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, the EFL pundit said: “I think when Steve Bruce was first appointed as Blackpool manager, there would have been some eyebrows raised.

"But he’s got an incredible amount of experience, and that ultimately told for Blackpool as he turned their season around and got them flying up the table. He did a brilliant job.

“If I were a Blackpool fan, I’d be very excited about next season. He’ll have a summer of planning, and hopefully a bit of positive recruitment can see them finish even higher than the ninth-placed finish they achieved this time out.”

Blackpool can be hopeful of a strong season in 2025-26 being led by Steve Bruce

After a fairly disappointing last few years, Blackpool can now surely be optimistic about what the future could hold.

Since Neil Critchley got them promoted to the Championship and then consolidated their second-tier status, they have lurched from one managerial appointment to another, without any really having the desired effect.

When Critchley moved on to become Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Aston Villa in the summer of 2022, they opted for Michael Appleton.

However, that was an appointment which simply didn’t work out, and after a brief stint with Mick McCarthy in charge, the Tangerines were relegated back to League One for 2023/24.

After missing out on the play-offs in a similar fashion under Critchley again last season, he was dismissed just two games into 2024/25, paving the way for Bruce to come in.

With the way his time in charge has gone so far, Blackpool can surely be hopeful that they can compete at the top end of the division next term.

Bruce has turned them into an entertaining side and is arguably getting the best out of what he currently has at his disposal.

The performances of Ashley Fletcher have been central to that success. The frontman has been creating and scoring consistently, and his tally of 19 goal contributions is the highest league total of his career so far.

Things have steadily improved under Bruce so far, and that measured, consistent progress will likely be what is needed to eventually have the Tangerines competing in the top two tiers once again.

If Blackpool can quietly go about their business over the summer and bring in a couple of fresh faces to raise the level of the squad even further, then there is every reason to believe they could finish inside the top six, at least, next term.