Blackpool’s fairytale return to the big time is about to be realised but preparations for their first top-flight game in 39 years could have gone better.

Their urgent need to bolster their squad was addressed with a Manchester United reserve, an Aston Villa cast-off and three unknown French youngsters, but by bringing them in just days before their campaign kicks-off it doesn’t give manager Ian Halloway much time to integrate them into his side.

But it’s better late than ever and no further additions would have made a difficult task of staying up even more daunting.

The manager’s need to clarify his own future following reports he was set to leave the club over a disagreement with his chairman is far from ideal though.

But even if he could get more money working in the Championship, Halloway doesn’t appear to be a manager who will turn down the chance to test himself in the Premiership. A couple of years ago he must have wondered if the opportunity would ever arise after becoming the first manager to take Leicester down to the third tier of English football.

However, he has worked wonders at Blackpool and it culminated in their dramatic promotion victory over Cardiff last May and the shot at the Premier League he’s been waiting for.

The fact that players had to wait until now to be paid promised bonuses and swap their first home game for an away game because a stand at a basic looking ground wasn’t finished shows how far they have come.

It is a monumental task for the club, perhaps the most difficult of all the promoted clubs in the Premier League era, to avoid relegation.

But as Halloway likes to point out, the media can go overboard sometimes and maybe they are making too much out of their problems.

Times like this can galvanise a small club into punching above their weight, and starting with Wigan on Saturday, they are going to have to in every game to remain a Premier League club.