TO many onlookers in the Championship, Lee Clark and ex-Wanderers favourite Alan Thompson walked into an impossible job when they took the reins at tomorrow’s opponents Blackpool.

The club had seen an unprecedented turnover of staff over the summer leaving previous boss Jose Riga with barely enough players to start the season, while fans’ discontent spilled over into protests against the stewardship of chairman Karl Oyston at Bloomfield Road.

The proverbial barge pole sprung to mind when Riga was finally axed and yet Clark, out of work for just 10 days after being sacked at Birmingham City following a defeat against Wanderers, surprised the footballing fraternity by taking up the offer.

The Geordie has never had relegation on his CV, saving Birmingham on the final day of last season with that memorable 2-2 draw against the Whites.

Clark admits rescuing Blackpool, 10 points adrift at the foot of the league already, would surpass even that achievement.

“It would be the best bar none; where were, where we are now, nothing would match it,” he said. “I know it’s a huge job but I came here with my eyes open.”

Neil Lennon believes the great escape is possible for Wanderers’ Lancashire rivals, albeit he will be wishing Clark good luck after the sides meet tomorrow.

In a strange twist of fate, Lennon’s first game in charge proved to be Clark’s last at St Andrew’s just a month ago, a statistic that still sticks in the Northern Irishman’s craw.

“I am delighted he’s back in football because I think his sacking at Birmingham was very, very harsh,” he told The Bolton News.

“He knows the Championship better than me, he’s a far more experienced manager than I am, and he’s a good friend of mine in the game with Alan Thompson in there with him as well.

“I hope he turns it round, although not on Saturday obviously. I’m certainly not tempting fate.”

In a game of numerous reunions, Thompson’s appearance as Clark’s assistant also adds an extra touch of spice to the occasion.

Lennon’s former right hand man at Celtic is, of course, well known to Whites fans for his successful spell in the nineties where he racked up nearly 200 appearances and 43 goals.

And like Clark – a lifelong friend from Newcastle – Thompson had no hesitation accepting his offer to bail out Blackpool.

“I never had a second’s thought,” he said. “It is a huge challenge, of course, but when Lee said there was a job there I knew right away that I wanted it.”

Lennon also has history with Clark. The pair competed against each other in many a Premier League fixture for Leicester and Fulham and Newcastle respectively but also kept in touch since hanging up their boots.

After Clark left Huddersfield Town in 2012 he was invited by Lennon and Thompson to Parkhead.

And the Wanderers boss does not think his opposite number will be fazed by the rebuilding job that appears necessary.

“Lee knew what he was going into and he has the same sort of problems at Birmingham – and how he kept them up last season I’ll never know.

“I’m really glad to see him back in the game.”