EXCLUSIVE RHYS Evans is poised to quit the County Ground and sign for Blackpool next week after accepting a new challenge with the Seasiders.

The Swindon Advertiser understands that the 24-year-old will travel north to pen a two-year contract at Bloomfield Road after the Bank Holiday weekend.

Evans has been weighing up his options for some time, stressing how important it was that he made the right decision at a key stage in his career.

After considerable soul-searching it now looks certain that Evans will decide to uproot and leave his home town behind after three seasons at the County Ground.

Evans picked up five player of the year awards for his efforts during the 2005-6 campaign, despite missing a significant chunk of the season through injury.

He had been offered a new deal by Town but admitted it wasn not to his liking.

An improved deal has not been forthcoming at this stage and Evans has decided that he needs to address his future now.

The arrival of Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet, former Chelsea colleagues of the Swindonian, led some fans to conclude that such a development would be enough to secure the player's signature but that does not appear to be the case.

If all goes ahead as expected then it will leave new boss Wise having to find not one but two goalkeepers when he returns from his Dubai holiday.

Reserve keeper Matt Bulman was among those released by Iffy Onuora at the end of the last campaign.

And should Evans depart then it just leaves the club with youth team custodian Jon Stewart in the goalkeeping department.

Evans was unavailable for comment as the Advertiser went to press.