Nottingham Forest vs Blackpool: Seasiders name just FOUR substitutes on the bench despite signing 12 players in 12 days

The on-going saga at the Championship club is yet to be resolved despite the new season getting underway

Jose Riga on the sidelines during Blackpool's Championship match against Nottingam Forest (Getty Images)

Blackpool managed to field a team for their opening match of the Championship season at Nottingham Forest, but they were only able to name four substitutes on the bench such is the lack of depth in the first team squad.

In fact, two of those four were youth players, and having let 27 players go at the end of last season, the Seasiders are struggling just to put out a senior XI to start each match.

Having had just eight players two weeks’ ago, the club went on a spree of signing 12 players in 12 days, but despite taking 23 squad members to Nottingham for their opening game of the season, manager Jose Riga was unable to fill the bench with the maximum permitted seven substitutes.

Blackpool’s latest signing Ishmael Miller was not part of the squad for the match having joined the club on Wednesday, but another new addition Andrea Orlandi was able to start the match.

The club finds itself in turmoil after an on-going saga between the club’s owner Karl Oyston and president Valeri Belokon. The club has turned over more than £100m since winning promotion to the Premier League in 2010. Belokon criticised Oyston for failing to sufficiently invest in the team, while fans have protested for Oyston to leave the club ahead of what is sure to be a difficult season for Blackpool as they bid to avoid relegation.