THE SEASIDERS have continued their preparations for the new season today after young goalkeeper Mark Halstead and defender Ash Eastham agreed professional terms with the club.

The pair, who have both been regulars in the reserve and youth teams over the last few seasons, will now look to impress new boss Ian Holloway in an effort to stake a place in the first-team squad.

Gary Parkinson, Blackpool's Head of Youth, said: "I am delighted that both players have signed professional contracts with the club. The majority of supporters will know all about Mark as he has appeared on the bench for the first-team on a number of occassions. His performances for both the reserves and youth team have attracted a lot of interest from Premier League clubs, and for him to sign for the club is a real boost.

"Ash has developed into an excellent defender during the last 12 months and I am confident that if he shows the same effort and desire that he has done during his time with us, he will make a good living out of the game. He's a big, strong lad who never shirks a challenge and I am sure he is looking forward to continuing his development alongside some of the senior pros."

Both lads are on one-year contracts with the option for a further year and will link-up with the first-team when they return for pre-season training at the beginning of July.