Gilks: I was right to stay

Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks is thankful he opted against joining last summer's exodus from Bloomfield Road.

The Seasiders' last-day relegation from the Barclays Premier League prompted key figures such as Charlie Adam, DJ Campbell and David Vaughan to seek pastures new. Scotland international Gilks also had offers on the table despite enduring a campaign significantly interrupted by a knee injury.
But with the Lancashire outfit chasing a second npower Championship play-off triumph in three years when they take on West Ham at Wembley in Saturday's final, the 29-year-old is happy he succumbed to boss Ian Holloway's powers of persuasion.
"I was very close to leaving," said Gilks. "There were a couple of clubs speaking to my agent and we were waiting on answers.
"Fortunately they took their time and Blackpool didn't. Ian Holloway was on the phone to me non-stop, I was going to turn it off at one point! But he persuaded me to come back and, for myself, it was a footballing decision.
"Thankfully it was the right decision because of where we are, plus it's possibly been one of the best seasons I've had."