Blackpool on the crest of a wave

By Paul Fletcher

Grayson wants to end his first full season as manager with promotion

The turning point? A 2-0 defeat at Carlisle United on 26 September 2006.

Blackpool went into the fixture with only one win from their opening 10 League One fixtures and finished the match as they started it - 22nd in the table.

But manager Simon Grayson had seen something that told him a summer of change at Bloomfield Road was starting to bear fruit.

"We absolutely battered them in the second half," Grayson told BBC Sport.

"We played some really great stuff and I thought to myself 'this team is starting to gel'."

Blackpool won their next game, which was at home to Leyton Orient, 3-0 and, according to Grayson, his team has "never really looked back since".

The Seasiders started a climb up the table that resulted in them reaching their highest place - third - with a 6-3 demolition of Swansea on the final day of the regular season.

You cannot do anything differently preparing for the play-offs than you would for a game through the season Blackpool boss Simon Grayson

Grayson's team now go into their play-off semi-final first-leg at Oldham on Sunday on the back of a seven-game winning streak and boast the best away record in the division.

If Grayson, brother of former England cricketer Paul, was to finish the season a play-off winner it would seal a remarkable change of fortune for the ailing Lancashire club.

Blackpool have not played in the top two tiers of English football since 1978 and the intervening period was a fluctuating pattern of relegation and promotion between the bottom two divisions of the Football League.

Grayson's appointment as caretaker manager followed the departure of Colin Hendry in November 2005 and led to the 37-year-old steering Blackpool away from another relegation.

606: DEBATE Do you think Blackpool will win promotion?

He was given the job permanently and set about a rebuilding process at the club.

"Last season was about survival," added Grayson. "It was difficult. I had to learn quickly and bring people in to win games. I had a clear-out in the summer and brought a lot of new faces in."

It was against Carlisle that Grayson realised his summer's business was starting to bear fruit. The victory over Orient started a run of only two League One defeats in 17 games.

"We have just wanted to keep winning and breeding confidence, which we have done," said Grayson, who made more than 400 appearances as a defender with the likes of Leicester, Aston Villa and Blackpool.

Blackpool have redeveloped two sides of Bloomfield Road

"We have got some good characters and players at the club who have worked their socks off - both on the training ground and the pitch.

"We have got an honest bunch of lads who want to better themselves and have given themselves a chance to do so."

Blackpool's Bloomfield Road ground was in a shambolic state a few seasons ago but two sides have been redeveloped, while the form on the pitch has brought supporters back through the turnstiles.

Last year Latvian Valeri Belokon bought a 20% stake in the club, with an option to increase his investment and became president of the club.

"The fans at Blackpool have been starved of success but the club has great tradition and heritage," stated Grayson.

"We have tried to play attractive football and have had three or four sell-outs of close to 9,500 and regular crowds of more than 7,500. It was more like 4,500 to 5,000 when I took over.

GRAYSON IN THE PLAY-OFFS (all Division One) 1992: Blackburn 1-0 Leicester 1993: Swindon 4-3 Leicester 1994: Leicester 2-1 Derby 1996: Leicester 2-1 Crystal Palace

"Development plans are in place for the next stage of the ground and Mr Beolokon is in the background after buying a 20% stake. If we do progress, maybe he will spend some money or become more involved with it all."

Blackpool are clearly well-positioned to progress - but Grayson knows that his team's strong finish to the season will count for little if they fail in the play-offs.

"There are some good teams left and we cannot get carried away," he said. "It is just another game of football and you cannot do anything differently than you would through the season."

As a player at Leicester Grayson was involved in two play-off failures and two successes.

Grayson was captain in the 2-1 win over Derby County in 1994 and lifted the trophy after climbing the famous 39 steps at Wembley.

But Grayson has no plans to dust off the old video tapes to show his players ahead of the encounter with the Latics.

"That was all a long time ago now and I'm not sure that the old Betamax will work anymore," said Grayson.