Luke Garbutt and Scott Fraser reveal why they joined League One rivals after Sunderland interest

The duo, who left Everton and Burton Albion respectively at the end of the 2019/20 campaign, were both on Phil Parkinson’s radar prior to the introduction of the League One salary cap.

And both Garbutt and Fraser have addressed their decisions and revealed why they ended up at their new employers.

Fraser, who has signed a two-year deal with MK Dons, claims he did have interest from the Championship – but didn’t feel the second tier clubs interested in his services would prove to be the right fit.

"I was one of the fortunate ones who did have interest and other offers,” the midfielder said.

“I made no secret of it that I wanted to go to the Championship, but the offers I got in the Championship weren’t the right ones for me in terms of the clubs, style of football and things like that.

"For me personally, that's a massive factor.

“When I made my mind up that it wasn’t going to be the Championship this year, I had to go somewhere I could progress again.”

For Garbutt, who also drew interest from Ipswich Town, it was the location and impact of manager Neil Critchley that attracted him to Blackpool.

"The gaffer and I spoke last week and his CV speaks for itself,” said the full-back.

“He’s spent seven years at Liverpool, a massive football club, and hopefully he can build that ethos into Blackpool. I like his plans.

“He’s got it absolutely spot on. He sees the football club on a pathway and he wants players to be built into that philosophy. It’s something I was really excited about and I want to get cracking really.

“I spent a long time at Everton, coming through the academy at 16. I just feel that at this moment in my career, with everything that is going on in the world, I needed somewhere close to home,” he continued.

“I now live in Liverpool, so this is the perfect platform, and the manager plays the right way, which will suit my game.”

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