Mixed Emotions

Forbes Mixed Emotions

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Adrian Forbes was released from the Liberty Stadium at the end of last season with not so much as a thank you and some bitter words after a missed appointment with Kenny Jackett.

A trip back from the airport and some unanswered voicemail messages meant that Forbes was not able to keep his allocated time with the manager to find out that his contract was not to be renewed.

Now, almost twelve months later, Forbes is a visitor to the stadium with his new side Blackpool this weekend and he comes up against another man released that day but now back at the Liberty as manager – Roberto Martinez.

And Forbes admits that he has mixed emotions ahead of the big game which could see the seasiders become the second side to celebrate promotion at the Liberty Stadium in its short life.

Forbes said, “I’ve got mixed emotions as I’ve got a lot of friends there, both on and off the pitch, and the fans were superb to me while I was there.

“I’d love to see Swansea playing Championship football. They deserve that. But, at the same time, I don’t want them to get it at our expense.

“I consider players like Willy Gueret, Kevin Austin and Alan Tate as friends for life.

“But I wouldn’t want to meet them in the play-off final. That’s a scenario I wouldn’t want.

“The ideal scenario would be Blackpool going up automatically and Swansea via the play-offs, but sadly that can’t happen.”

“If they make the play-offs Swansea will have a great chance of going up because they’ve got players who are ready for the big occasion.

“With the squad they’ve got I’m surprised they didn’t challenge for a top-two place this season.

“I wasn’t involved in the play-off final last season, but I saw the effect losing it had on some of the players.

“A few of them were in tears in the dressing room after the game. They won’t want to go through that again, that’s an added incentive for them if they’re involved again.

“Most of the lads who played against Barnsley are still at the club and they’re going to be stronger characters after losing the final.

“We’ve had a superb season. When I joined Blackpool I didn’t know what to expect.

“They struggled a bit last season, so I don’t think anyone would have thought we’d cement a play-off place with two games still to play.

“We’ve got a very good squad and we want to finish on a high. We want to keep that momentum going if we are to be involved in the play-offs.

“If Swansea don’t go up this season, then I expect them to do it next year.”