We've received news from the tournament organisers, the newly promoted Premiership side Blackpool have been added to the Joma SouthWest Challenge Cup as a wildcard entry - the full press release from the organisers follows:
JOMA 2010 SOUTH WEST CHALLENGE CUP.
DRAMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT FROM JOMA 2010 TOURNAMENT EXECUTIVE: WILD CARD ENTRY APPROVED FOR PREMIERSHIP'S NEWEST LEAGUE TEAM:
BLACKPOOL FC.
In a fast-moving climax to the launch of JOMA 2010 South West Challenge Cup, Tournament Secretary HEATHER SCHOFIELD issued the following statement:
'Developments over the past 48 hours have resulted in agreement being reached for the announcement of an important addition to the final line-up of teams invited to compete for the 2010 Challenge Cup.
Supporters will recall that it had been the intention of the Tournament Organisers to withhold the Wild Card entry, pending discussions with top-flight UK and European teams. To this end, two teams had been ear-marked for the stand-by slot following the preliminary announcement.
That Wild Card entry has now been irrevocably accepted by BLACKPOOL FC; the UK's newest Premiership League side who gained promotion to the top-flight following a dramatic Championship play-off win, against CARDIFF CITY.
Confirmation of this development came late on Friday when Manger IAN HOLLOWAY expressed his intention of accepting the invitation to return to the West Country, subject only to the formalities of the Tournament timetable and travel arrangements being finalised. BLACKPOOL FC had previously entered the Competition in 2009 and now joins with EASTLEIGH and RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS as returning Clubs ahead of the Challenge Cup Draw, scheduled for Monday 14th June at the Barnstaple Hotel, Barnstaple.
Tournament Director MICHAL BRADSHAW commented:
On behalf of the entire Tournament Executive, I want to warmly welcome Ian Holloway and his victorious side back to the West Country for the JOMA 2010 Tournament; we are privileged to host such a gentleman of integrity and principle whose feats this past season have just left people absolutely spellbound .When Ian enters a room, it immediately lights up. And he has just lit-up the entire 2010 South West Challenge Cup. Welcome back Ian.
