the following season, he played 43 matches as blackpool achieved a 14th-placed finish in the second division. his single goal of the campaign came in a 3–1 victory over stoke city at the victoria ground. in the 1999–2000 season, he played 51 times and scored five goals as blackpool finished 22nd and were relegated to the third division. he scored on his 93rd and final league appearance for the club in a 1–1 draw with oldham athletic at boundary park. despite the team's relegation, carlisle's strong defensive performances during his three years at blackpool attracted the attention of iain dowie, who at the time was a scout for queens park rangers.