Former Blackpool coach Steve Thompson has hailed Rovers legend Tony Parkes’ impact at Bloomfield Road.
The pair worked together as part of Simon Grayson’s backroom staff when the Seasiders won promotion to the Championship in 2007.
Blackpool beat Oldham and Yeovil in the play-offs to secure their place back in the second tier, laying the foundations for their promotion to the Premier League several years later.
Thompson insists he and Grayson learnt lots from Parkes, who “commanded your respect” whenever he spoke.
“I was working with Simon and Tony Parkes,” he told Blackpool Gazette. “I played with Simon at Leicester and when my dad was manager at Buxton, he signed Tony and sold him onto Blackburn, so there was a little bit of history.
“He was great for me and Simon to learn off with his experience. He wasn’t a man of many words but when he talked, he commanded your respect.
“When we got into the Championship, it started the ball rolling because we had a nucleus of a good team that we tried to keep together.”
Thompson added: “The one thing about Simon, Tony and myself was that trust as a coach. Simon came in with his own ideas, he wanted to be a number one. When you look at the clubs he’s managed, he’s been successful with what he’s done.
“That was the first new Wembley appearance for Blackpool and showed once you get a good team spirit, it can take you to places where people don’t expect you to.”
Parkes also had a stint as caretaker manager at Bloomfield Road, with assistance from Thompson in the dugout, after Grayson left to take over at Leeds.
Blackpool went up through the play-offs again in 2010, beating Cardiff 3-2 at Wembley to end a 39-year wait to return to the top flight.
The Seasiders gave it a valiant effort the following season but were relegated on the final day following defeat at Manchester United.
Now, Blackpool are gearing up for another campaign in League One after finishing in ninth place this term and 11 points off the play-off places.
