SEVERAL first and second division clubs are believed to be eyeing up a swoop for Blackpool's John Hills.

A Scottish premier league side is also understood to have been in touch with Hills and his advisors about a possible move.

Talks with Gillingham are said to be going well, and the Gills this week released Roland Edge, their regular left-back, who had been stalling on a new contract. Hills is said to be impressed with the set-up at the Kent club, but wants to consider all his options before making a final decision. Boss Andy Hessenthaler has also been linked with Bradford's Andy Myers. Contrary to speculation in East Lancashire, Burnley have not been in touch with an offer for Hills at this stage.

Meanwhile the Seasiders now know for certain who they will be facing next season.

Coming up are Bournemouth, who beat Lincoln City 5-2 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday, with former Blackpool loanee, Phil Gulliver on the team-sheet. He is still a Middlesbrough player so it is not clear if he will still be with the Cherries next season.

Two other Blackpool old boys, Danny Shittu and Clarke Carlisle, will be back in town next term after their QPR side's heart-breaking extra time defeat against Cardiff in the second division play-offs.

QPR have been installed as third favourites for the title in the first set of odds produced by bookies, William Hill.

Brighton and Tranmere are the fancied teams, with Blackpool one of a number of clubs quoted at 20/1.

News from elsewhere in the division indicates that several clubs are feeling the financial pinch.

Barnsley look set to lose leading scorer and player of the year, Bruce Dyer, after the striker failed to agree a new contract.

Dyer is expected to join a first division club -- though Doncaster, newly promoted to the football league, have also been linked with a move.

At Grimsby, former Blackpool player, Paul Groves, is wrestling with a tough financial situation. He has had to offer out-of-contract pair, John McDermott and Stacey Coldicott new contracts on vastly reduced terms and may lose midfielder, George Santos.

The most bizarre news of the week comes from Luton where an as-yet unnamed consortium has bought the club and promptly sacked popular management pair, Joe Kinnear and Mick Harford and replaced them with Terry Fenwick, who lasted just seven games in his previous job at Northampton. Fans are already protesting.