Holloway Supposedly Threatens to Resign if Fined

[Macmoish]

Blackpool Gazette

Holloway: Fine us and I'll resign

11 November 2010 By Steve Canavan

IAN Holloway has threatened to quit as Blackpool boss if the Premier League fine the Seasiders for making ten changes at Aston Villa.

The manager is furious with suggestions the club might be punished over their starting line-up for last night's 3-2 Premier League defeat.

Of the team which started against Everton on Saturday, only Keith Southern retained his place.

But Holloway is 100 per cent certain he has done nothing wrong.

He says he has assembled a 24-man squad, believes they are all as good as each other and has a right to pick whoever he pleases.

He takes great offence at anyone saying he fielded a weakened team, claiming that is an insult to the 11 who started.

On top of that, he can point to the fact that the Seasiders played well and lost to a last-minute goal.

Wolves were given a suspended £25,000 fine by the Premier League last season after boss Mick McCarthy made ten changes for a match against Manchester United.

But if Blackpool are hit with a similar punishment, Holloway insists he would have to consider his future.

"Let some person from the Premier League even try to tell me who I can pick," said the boss, in a heated press conference at Villa Park.

"I am the manager of Blackpool Football Club and I select people to come to the club, and that means I can play them whenever I want.

FOR THE FULL REACTION FROM LAST NIGHTS GAME PICK UP A COPY OF THURSDAY'S GAZETTE.

www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpool-football-club/Holloway-Fine-us-and-I39ll.6621805.jp

[eskey8]

To bloody right - he is the boss and he should decide who plays. MM last season got fined for fielding a weakened team against Man Utd when the next game only a few days later was a relegation threatned club. This is outrageous - the big clubs rest key players before champions league matches etc why should the lower teams not be allowed to do this?

Anyway 3-2 lost away to Villa is hardly a bad result.

[froggyranger]

I heard the interview on the radio, it really made me chuckle. Good old Holloway, he certainly is a welcome relief to the average manager we have to hear moaning. Plus he raises very good points.

[tightattheback]

I am a massive fan of Ollie and just love his passion, I remember him after playing against Arsenal and asking if he minded my boy having a photo taken with him. The gentleman that he is, he obliged and while there I commented on the the goal that Berkhamp had smashed in to beat us on the day. Ollie stood there talking for some considerable time explaining how they had tried to prepare for the Dutchman and he had no hesitation in keeping his wife and friends waiting whilst he spoke to his supporters, what a top, top bloke.
However, I listened to his interview last night and while I admire his passion, I fear that reporters are starting to exploit him for entertainment and news. Once they do this he will become their laughing stock. Ollie is a very good manager and one who will get the best out of his sometimes 'limited resources'. I feel that he sometimes struggles during interviews to get his point across in the same way as some other managers who are more experienced at dealing with press, and hence comes out with some rash statements/comments that will inevitably get him into trouble at some stage.
Please Ollie keep doing what you are very good at and leave the scribe sharks to others!
Good luck and hope we meet you next season, and not in the championship.

[harlowranger]

I love Ollie to and remember what the did for us as a player and Manager , but i'm sorry i think he was wrong !
Think his answers in why he changed the players for a rest etc was not valid!
They have a week off international break next week for heavens sake!
Last year they played 46 games in the Championship so playing just 38 dont get it !
Unquestionably Villa were there for the taking not won for 5 games if the six new players that had never started a game before for Blackpool in the premier league didnt play and you had Varney , Adam , and others i think they would have won that game!
If now west ham beat them and Blackpool get relegated by 1or 3 points in May , sorry but Ollie will only has himself to blame!
Probably some of the fans that travelled down to the West Mids were none to see that team sheet either !
Not saying the new players didnt give everything just saying the better players IMO would have got more!

[Lonegunmen]

Fergutlesson never gets fined for doing the same at Manure.

[toboboly]

I'm fairly certain there were major changes to a number of teams recently, including those at the top. I will start writing them down. Funny how it's only the "smaller" clubs that get looked at.

[Macmoish]

And writing re the matter in his weekly Independent column
www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ian-holloway-im-still-ready-to-resign-if-premier-league-fine-us-ndash-but-i-must-apologise-to-mick-2133601.html

[superckat]

I have to admit, based on the fact that Wolves fined Mick McCarthy, I am kind of half hoping that he does get fined to see if he actually carries out the threat.