Gilks holds 'slight grudge'

Former Norwich City back-up keeper Matt Gilks believes he has repaid Blackpool chief Ian Holloway's faith after playing a key role in the Seasiders' Premiership fairytale success.

The 27-year-old is poised for a top flight bow next season after his career appeared to have stalled at Norwich and the Tangerines prior to Holloway's arrival.

Gilks failed to make a senior appearance at Carrow Road following his free transfer move in 2007 during Peter Grant's brief tenure before being offloaded by Glenn Roeder 12 months later. Now David Marshall's one time understudy insists he has finally found a manager who believes in him after two wasted seasons since leaving first club Rochdale.

'I don't resent past managers,' said Gilks. 'It is their decision, but I probably wasn't given a fair crack of the whip and I suppose I do hold a slight grudge. I had to keep going but I did let it affect me. I'm not going to lie and say it didn't. It affected how I approached my football.

'When I was at Rochdale I played every single game for two and a half seasons. Every single game. I left to join Norwich and go on to better things, but Celtic's keeper David Marshall joined at the same time and I was on the bench for a season there. So that was difficult, but it was even harder when I came to Blackpool and found myself on the bench again. It meant I basically had two years out, but this year I am back doing what I should be doing and I am really enjoying it.'