Grayson confirmed Hoolahan was only selected for the Walkers Stadium clash after FIFA intervened in the row over his proposed transfer from Livingston.

The Scottish side have claimed the Seasiders have broken an agreement on payments regarding Hoolahan's season-long loan in 2006-07 which ended with the club overcoming Yeovil in the League One play-off final at Wembley in May.

And Grayson said: "We found out late in the day on Friday that FIFA were going to grant us permission to play him but it was not until lunchtime before the game I decided I was going to play him.

"And I wanted to keep it quiet.

"But will he be our player on a permanent basis though? Do not ask me because I honestly have no idea what is going to happen."

But it was Keith Southern Blackpool had to thank for their win over City with the midfielder scoring in the 63rd minute after meeting a left-wing cross from Stephen Crainey with a shot on the turn from 12 yards out.

However, Leicester players were incensed the Seasiders failed to stop play to allow treatment for injured right-back James Chambers.

But Grayson said: "Do you kick the ball out when you are in the opposition 18-yard box?

"It is a difficult one for the player on the ball because sometimes the injured player jumps straight back up as soon as the whistle goes.

"If we had kicked it out and Chambers had got back up it would have been a wasted opportunity for us.

"Perhaps the referee should intervene in these situations and take the decision out of the players' hands.

"After we scored, Leicester went with three strikers up front and we needed Paul Rachubka to make some fantastic saves."

Chambers, who was immediately substituted after the goal, was confirmed as having suffered a calf injury and Foxes boss Martin Allen said: "We do not know how serious the injury is yet and we will not know for a couple of days.

"The referee was close enough to the incident and did not blow his whistle so we will just have to respect that decision."

Leicester's best had come from striker Mark de Vries who is back in favour after spending last season on loan at Den Haag.

First, the Dutchman controlled a goalkeeper's clearance on his thigh, turned and rattled the Blackpool crossbar with a long-range effort before hitting the woodwork with a header in the second half.

Allen said: "He almost broke the crossbar with that shot in the first half and all our supporters behind the goal thought it was going in.

"Mark has earned his place back in the team. I have not seen skill like that since the World Cup."