Blackpool will hope new signing can learn from Sheffield Wednesday and Watford disasters: View | OneFootball

Blackpool have completed the signing of striker Ashley Fletcher after he was released by Watford.

Blackpool will be hoping to challenge for promotion from League One next season.

The Seasiders enjoyed a decent first season back in League One this term, but inconsistency proved to be costly as they missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the campaign.

It could be a busy summer at Bloomfield Road as manager Neil Critchley rebuilds his squad for a promotion push, and a host of senior players have departed at the end of their contracts, including Callum Connolly, Marvin Ekpiteta, Matty Virtue and Shayne Lavery.

Blackpool have signed Huddersfield Town striker Jordan Rhodes on a permanent deal following a successful loan spell, and they completed their second summer signing this week, with striker Ashley Fletcher joining the club on a free transfer after his release by Watford.

It has been a difficult few years for Fletcher with underwhelming spells at Watford, New York Red Bulls and Sheffield Wednesday, and while he will be keen to reignite his career with the Seasiders, it is certainly a big risk for the club.

Ashley Fletcher signing is a gamble for Blackpool based on Sheffield Wednesday & Watford stints

Fletcher showed plenty of promise in the early stages of his career with Manchester United and West Ham United, as well as during his loan spell at Barnsley, and he made a £6.5 million move to Middlesbrough in July 2017.

While Fletcher failed to live up to that price tag, he did score 28 goals and register 11 assists in 109 appearances for Boro, with his best season coming in the 2019-20 campaign when he netted 13 goals.

Fletcher controversially left Boro in April 2021 with four games of the season remaining after rejecting the offer of a new contract, and he subsequently made a surprise move to Watford, who had just won promotion to the Premier League.

The 28-year-old struggled for game time at Vicarage Road, and he made a loan move to New York Red Bulls in February 2022, but he did not score in seven appearances for the MLS side.

Fletcher could not force his way into the Hornets' team after his return, and he made a temporary move to Wigan Athletic in August 2022, but it would be another underwhelming spell for him as he scored just twice in 28 appearances as the Latics were relegated to League One.

The striker then reunited with his former Watford manager Xisco Munoz as he joined Wednesday on loan last summer, but he once again found his minutes limited.

Fletcher made 28 appearances in all competitions for the Owls, but only eight of those came as starts, and he failed to find the back of the net during his time at Hillsborough.

His last appearance for Wednesday came back in February when he was shown two yellow cards in a matter of minutes after coming on as a substitute at Millwall, and that arguably summed up his stint in South Yorkshire.

It is hard not to feel some sympathy for Fletcher as he is clearly low on confidence, and there is no doubt that he always worked hard and put in plenty of effort whenever he featured for the Owls.

After completing his move to Blackpool, Fletcher himself admitted that it has been a difficult time, telling the club's official website: "It’s been a process to get the deal over the line, but I’m delighted now it’s all done and pleased to be here.

"There’s no getting away from the fact it’s been a tough couple of years, but that’s behind me now and I’m so happy to be somewhere that I’m wanted. Once I’d heard of the interest from the Head Coach and spoke to him, it was a no-brainer of a decision.

"I hope to bring experience and good performances to help the team achieve our goal this season."

Dropping down to League One could be the perfect move for Fletcher to get his career back on track, and Critchley will be hoping that he can get the best out of him, just as he did with Rhodes this season.

Rhodes had endured a tough few years at Huddersfield, but he rediscovered his form at Bloomfield Road as he scored 15 goals in 33 appearances this campaign, and Critchley could have a similar effect on Fletcher.

However, Fletcher's career goalscoring record is nowhere near as impressive as Rhodes, and he is yet to prove that he can be a prolific scorer at any level of football.

The signing of Fletcher is a big gamble for the Seasiders, particularly as he has been given a two-year contract and is likely to be on high wages, and there is little evidence to suggest that he will be a success.

Having mainly played his football at Championship level or above though, Fletcher dropping to the third tier of English football could actually work out rather well, and if he is given the service like Rhodes was last season, then he could finally start to hit the back of the net on a regular basis.