IT WAS out with the old and in with the new at Bloomfield Road this week.

Seasiders legend, Jimmy Armfield, was back at the stadium to open a new community learning centre in the week when the club announced that it would go ahead with a new stand that will bearw his name.

Work is duwe to begin towards the end of this week on bulldozing the east paddock, affectionately known as the scratching shed.

A temporary stand is to be erected on the east touchline in time for the start of the season. Work will then begin on demolishing the south stand, currently used to accommodate visiting fans, and building the new Jimmy Armfield stand, which should be ready towards the end of next season.

Mr Armfield, who played all his league football for Blackpool, unveiled a plaque at the new Seasiders Community Learning Centre in the stadium's new-look north stand.

The centre, backed by Blackpool and Fylde College and Blackpool Borough Council as well as the football club, features an information technology department, an adult learning centre and a digital recording studio.

Mr Armfield visited the centre's hi-tech sport science suite, where he was joined by current Pool youngsters, Jamie Burns and Matthew Blinkhorn, to test their fitness using the new equipment.

Blackpool and Fylde College is to run full and part-time courses at the centre, which will be free for the unemployed.

Funding for the new centre came from the Blackpool Challenge Partnership's single regeneration budget, the European Development Fund and the Capital Modernisation Fund.

For more information about courses at the centre call 01253 401365.