8 Years today It's Official - Ollie's Back! And Bircham?

[Macmoish]

Interesting Fernandes did the initial calls

SKY

Ian Holloway

Football Expert
Ian Holloway: Why I couldn't say no to QPR return

Last Updated: 12/11/16 8:41am

Ian Holloway is leaving Sky Sports to take the QPR job
Ian Holloway is leaving Sky Sports to take the QPR job

If this is a dream - then please don't wake me up, my little heart will break.

I remember when I signed my contract with Sky Sports, I told my boss Gary Hughes: "If QPR ever come calling for me, Gary, then sorry, I'm going."

And here we are. QPR did call and - 10 years after leaving the club - I'm back home.
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On Monday, I woke up expecting a normal day but little did I know my life was about to change.

I received a call saying Tony Fernandes was interested in talking to me, to see if I had any interest in the job. My heart started beating faster. Was this really happening?

An hour later, I spoke to Tony and was bowled over by his enthusiasm for the club.

It was a very emotional phone call.

I spoke about the club from the heart and he was on my wavelength very quickly. Despite a couple of bumps in the road, he's still got the desire and love needed to take this club forward.

Within a couple of hours, Les Ferdinand and CEO Lee Hoos came shooting across the M4 to speak to me at my home. Whatever I said during the meeting must have struck a chord with them, as luckily for me on Thursday, I got the call saying I was the man for the job.

I'll never forget that moment.
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It had been an honour to serve QPR for 10 years of my life, but to be given another opportunity working with people who have been my team-mates through the years - like Les and Andy Sinton, who is the club ambassador - is just amazing.

Barack Obama used the analogy of a relay runner to describe his tenure as US President and I can totally relate to that.

I'm delighted to pick up the QPR baton and run with it. I'm going to run as hard as I can and carry it with immense pride and try to make a difference.

I used to take penalties at Bristol Rovers because I didn't trust anyone else to care like I did. I feel like that about this job.

I've painted a picture in my brain of the QPR badge up on a mantelpiece covered in gold. It needs to be looked after and worshipped. Like with the penalties at Rovers, I don't think anyone would care for that badge as much as I would.
Holloway managed QPR to promotion to the Championship in 2004
Holloway managed QPR to promotion to the Championship in 2004

Although my work with Sky has been hugely rewarding, you can't replace the buzz of football management.

I've missed the excitement of being on that rollercoaster. The ups and the downs.

I watched QPR U23s play on Friday and it all came flooding back. I saw the hope, drive and passion in the players' eyes.

That's what I've missed.

Moments like when you see Gareth Ainsworth bang one in from 40 yards and see the look on his face or the passion in Kevin Gallen's eyes when he scored a goal to win promotion. You can't replace those feelings.

I've been away for so long, I'm going to have some butterflies stepping out onto the training pitch.

I haven't even got any football boots!
Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and QPR
Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and QPR

I'm also going to look fatter in my tracksuit than I did 10 years ago.

I'm so thankful for Gary giving me a chance to work with Sky Sports. There are so many people to thank - too many to name.

Adam Craig - who looked after me and bossed me around a bit on my first few trial shifts off camera - talented fellas such as Scott Minto and Simon Thomas, and Jayne and Laura, the make-up ladies. Even my mum said I looked smart on the TV. They were miracle workers.

I was so blown away by the immense size of the business yet everything works so crisply.

Everyone knows their role. It's such a well-oiled machine. They are top of the league for a reason.
Holloway working with Scott Minto for Sky Sports on a Football League game
Holloway working with Scott Minto for Sky Sports on a Football League game

The amount of work that goes into an outside broadcast is scary. It taught me about how the structure is so important in getting your product right - the relationship between producer and director is so crucial. I'll use that experience to help develop my working relationship with Les.

Covering games as a TV pundit has also opened my eyes to how much football means to supporters.

You never really get to feel the sheer passion from supporters when you're in the dugout as you're too busy concentrating on the game. But when you're in the studio at matches, you really appreciate the emotion in the stands.

I just hope I can convince my players to appreciate being professional footballers and to give their all for the fans that pay good money to come and support them week-in, week-out. I want my players to relate to the people - otherwise football will slip too far away from the working man.

I'm going to try and make every player that puts on the Hoops shirt aware of how I, Les, and all the fans feel about QPR.
Holloway (second left) was a familiar face to Sky Sports viewers on Football League games
Holloway (second left) was a familiar face to Sky Sports viewers on Football League games

At Blackpool, I created an environment where my players could go from unknowns to heroes. That's what I want to do at QPR.

You can make players better and that's what we're going to try and do. Give me that instead of overpaid, underworked, ageing, ignorant, mercenaries, who are just there to pick their money up.

QPR have made those mistakes in the past, but those days are gone.

I want players that roll their sleeves up and don't sulk. You have to wear that shirt with pride. Who knows where that could take us?

If I can end up being QPR manager - twice - then anything in life in possible

www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/10653120/ian-holloway-why-i-couldnt-say-no-to-qpr-return

[Roller]

Nov 12, 2016 9:45:43 GMT nomar said:

Nov 12, 2016 9:27:47 GMT @57varieties said:

I will let others debate whether Ollie is the right choice - bottom line is no-one really knows and will not know until we see what happens on the pitch.

The bit I do not get are calls (not just on here) for him to have been given a shorter contract.

Practically everyone is screaming for stability but then in the last week I have seen calls for a temporary appointment until the summer to give us time to find the "right" man ( as if that helps!) and now more saying this contract is too long.

If we are starting off with a new manager (whoever it is) with the thought in mind that he might not survive the rest of this season plus the next two we should not be appointing him at all. If we are looking to keep someone for 6 months and then start the whole mess of recruiting a new manager and team in the summer there is no long term planning and what message does that give to he players?.  

The new manager's objective must be to take over from where we are and develop the current squad plus some new additions into a squad capable of challenging the top six and building the squad for a chance of survival if we can get promoted. 2 1/2 seasons to accomplish that is still an aggressive timeframe and there should be no way that the manager should be on a shorter term contract - unless we are going down the "give him 10 games and see if his stats are better than Warnock" route for the xtenth time.     

And to be honest, the length of contract these days very rarely ever matters anyway.

When there was all that consternation over Hasselbaink's 1 year rolling contract, Ferdinand stated that the manager's contracts have a 1 year termination clause on either side so whether the contract was for 2 years, 5 years or 10 years it would only cost 1 to break it. In effect all contracts are 1 year rolling contracts until they reach their final year.

[wrenboy61]

I remember writing on here a few years ago when once again we were looking for yet another manager and Ollie's name was mentioned that I thought he would be a mistake!

In that time we've gone down the old experienced manager(Redknapp) route and then tried the inexperienced hungry up and coming managers route and apart from the play off final which we were exceptionally lucky to win its been a depressing time at Loftus Road. The football has been dull and the atmosphere non existent. I have three Season Tickets two of them for my sons. One son can't be bothered to go any longer and the other spends most of the game looking at his phone. I try to keep them infused but its boring even for me so I can understand their lack of enthusiasm.

Last night when I told them Ollie was returning as manager both their faces lit up. Although both of them never saw him play and I don't think ever saw QPR when he was manager they see him on Sky, love his passion for football but more importantly his passion for our club.

Ollie now has the job all QPR fans, and that's what he is a QPR fan would want. Every time we lose it will hurt him as much as it does us. He will give it everything he's got and more. We will have a team of workers, something that should be the bear minimum to ask and God help the one's who just think they're just going to go through the motions and pick their money up!

I keep reading its a backward step which I find heard to believe as to be honest I don't really think we can go much further back from where we were yesterday. The on field performance of the club has been dire for far to long and whatever division we are in I want it to be entertaining and enjoyable not a chore to go. Ollie knows as fans what we want our club to be and what we want to watch. Whether he can deliver it only time will tell but I'm willing to get behind him and pray he gets it right because he's one of us. It feels to me that he's like one of the family you really want to see succeed. "COME ON YOU R'ssss"

[terryb]

Nov 12, 2016 7:51:41 GMT Roller said:

Just watched this, Ollie is still infectious; bring on Norwich, I can't wait.

It certainly is a stirring speech Roller. And I suspect it will be close to his final address to the players next Saturday! I'm assuming that our pre Christmas drink next week is at the normal venue around 1.00 (I think Grotty are running trains into Liverpool Street!)?

I do not doubt Ian's passion & his love for Queens Park Rangers & I'm certain that the atmosphere next week will be superb. In the short term it will be a far happier place to be & hopefully we will be more entertaining.

I do fear though that some supporters expectations of Ian Holloway will be far too high & won't understand it when we fail to win a match! Come next March, Ian's love for the club (and supporters) will be the same, but if we are not near the play off positions will this be reciprocated?

Please everyone, be realistic with your hopes & dreams!

[Macmoish]

I don't think Holloway has to get us into the playoffs to keep Fan support

As for next season - If not challenging...With our owners, who knows! (Think depends if he keeps the Fan support)

I don't see how Les Ferdinand can go through another manager in the next couple of years

[eusebio13]

Nov 11, 2016 20:30:06 GMT nomar said:

Nov 11, 2016 19:58:18 GMT eusebio13 said:

Have to say I think this is a step backward and will be seen as a mistake. Having said that I wish him well, he'll have my full backing and I can't imagine a more QPR man. Good luck Ollie

It might well be, time will tell.

But I can genuinely understand why Les and Lee Hoos would go for Holloway. He's not their first choice, but he ticks a lot of boxes.

Fans like to look at win/loss records of managers or judge them by their last appointment but that's the wrong way to go about these things.

If Peter Coates had done that at Stoke City he'd have never appointed Mark Hughes as manager.

That decision has turned out well for him because he understood the reasons why Hughes failed here but worked out well at other places he'd been at. He understood that what happened here didn't suddenly mean Hughes had gone from being a good manager to someone who'd suddenly forgotten everything he had ever learnt about management.

The idea that so and so failed at his last job therefore he's rubbish and not worth appointing Is a bit like a girl deciding that she's not going to go out with you because your last girlfriend dumped you so clearly you must be a useless boyfriend.

I genuinely think Holloway is the kind of manager QPR desperately needs right now. He has his faults and limitations but he cares deeply about this club and he will never sit back and let players put on that hooped shirt and take the p*ss. And that has been happening far too often in recent years.

You won't see performances like the Brentford no show because, unlike bigger name managers like Redknapp for example, Holloway will make damn sure every QPR player understands what those games mean to us fans. Because they mean the same to him.

And right now, this club vitally needs someone who can communicate that to the players, because it's a message they haven't been getting for years.

Hope you are right

[Roller]

Nov 12, 2016 15:34:02 GMT Macmoish said:

I don't think Holloway has to get us into the playoffs to keep Fan support

As for next season - If not challenging...With our owners, who knows! (Think depends if he keeps the Fan support)

I don't see how Les Ferdinand can go through another manager in the next couple of years

Even if he was Fernandes' choice?

[Macmoish]

Fernandes doesnt seem to be held accountable for our appointments!

[Roller]

Nov 12, 2016 16:52:10 GMT Macmoish said:

Fernandes doesnt seem to be held accountable for our appointments!

Ha ha, very true unless that is the reason that is why Gnanalingam is now running the club.

[nomar]

Nov 12, 2016 12:52:56 GMT wrenboy61 said:

I remember writing on here a few years ago when once again we were looking for yet another manager and Ollie's name was mentioned that I thought he would be a mistake!

In that time we've gone down the old experienced manager(Redknapp) route and then tried the inexperienced hungry up and coming managers route and apart from the play off final which we were exceptionally lucky to win its been a depressing time at Loftus Road. The football has been dull and the atmosphere non existent. I have three Season Tickets two of them for my sons. One son can't be bothered to go any longer and the other spends most of the game looking at his phone. I try to keep them infused but its boring even for me so I can understand their lack of enthusiasm.

Last night when I told them Ollie was returning as manager both their faces lit up. Although both of them never saw him play and I don't think ever saw QPR when he was manager they see him on Sky, love his passion for football but more importantly his passion for our club.

Ollie now has the job all QPR fans, and that's what he is a QPR fan would want. Every time we lose it will hurt him as much as it does us. He will give it everything he's got and more. We will have a team of workers, something that should be the bear minimum to ask and God help the one's who just think they're just going to go through the motions and pick their money up!

I keep reading its a backward step which I find heard to believe as to be honest I don't really think we can go much further back from where we were yesterday. The on field performance of the club has been dire for far to long and whatever division we are in I want it to be entertaining and enjoyable not a chore to go. Ollie knows as fans what we want our club to be and what we want to watch. Whether he can deliver it only time will tell but I'm willing to get behind him and pray he gets it right because he's one of us. It feels to me that he's like one of the family you really want to see succeed. "COME ON YOU R'ssss"

This.

[Marc]

On this "backwards step" that some are saying Ollie's appointment is, don't you have to have moved forwards to make a backwards step? Can anyone say we are any further forward than we were 10 years ago?

[harr]

I dont think our expectations will be great at all.

We just accepted last season months before the end that we wouldnt be going anywhere and said lets start a fresh In August.

Sadly 15-16 games later things were going backwards.

I think Ramsey had 20 points after 15 games and NW got us 8 points from 4 games.
So Jimmy got about 32 points in 27 games, barely more than a point a game last year and barely over a point a game this year.

So lets just stay up and see where we can finish this season.
I will be looking at how we start again next August with a few more Leaders in the team, which Ollie will get and playing with a bit more passion.

I doubt you will see us being turned over so easy at home like Preston, Brentford , Newcastle either.

I will be interested to see where we are a year today in terms of progression, what the general performances are like and not rolling over.

We wont win all the games and will still lose quite a few but my bet is you will gradually see things are changing over the next year and I for one will be backing him.

[harr]

[Macmoish]

His last game for Millwall was HOme Loss to Norwich
His first game in charge of QPR: Home to Norwich!


His time at Millwall leading to Axe

[Macmoish]

And Bircham

[Macmoish]

(There is of course the "sidebar" issue that Tony Fernandes is continuing to "Preempt" the official site with announcements
- Something the club was meant to be stopping)

[Macmoish]

Did he play Nintendo et al with him?

[terryb]

Nov 12, 2016 20:51:00 GMT harr said:

c

We just accepted last season months before the end that we wouldnt be going anywhere and said lets start a fresh In August.

Sadly 15-16 games later things were going backwards.

I think Ramsey had 20 points after 15 games and NW got us 8 points from 4 games.
So Jimmy got about 32 points in 27 games, barely more than a point a game last year and barely over a point a game this year.

So lets just stay up and see where we can finish this season.
I will be looking at how we start again next August with a few more Leaders in the team, which Ollie will get and playing with a bit more passion.

I doubt you will see us being turned over so easy at home like Preston, Brentford , Newcastle either.

I will be interested to see where we are a year today in terms of progression, what the general performances are like and not rolling over.

We wont win all the games and will still lose quite a few but my bet is you will gradually see things are changing over the next year and I for one will be backing him.

I dont think our expectations will be great at all.

Well, in a poll on LFW 10% are expecting an Ollie led charge to the Premier League!

I know that is not really representative, but reading other boards (as well as some on here) I think you will be surprised how many are expecting miracles from the man.

It could be that those people will be unforgiving to Ollie come February/March if we are not in the play off picture or if we are having the same results/performances as when Ollie was placed on "gardening leave".

After all, many of these people expected Ramsay & JFH to win the Championship! Why would they alter their views for Ollie?

I hope that I'm wrong, but many a Rangers fan who is excited at the moment may be quick to change to bitterness if their expectations are not met.

Unfortunately, Ollie could then take the flack instead of TF, as TF would state that he made the appointment that the supporters wanted.

Anyhow, bring on next Saturday. LR will be buzzing! As should the away end be at Portman Road the following week (tickets just purchased).

[Macmoish]

I think we all (or most of us) LOVE Holloway

And admire him for truly "Saving the Club" in our darkest, darkest hour.

But his appointment is testament to the terrible "reign" of "Uncle Tony" - and the way TF and his co-owners have run this club.

We finally have a good for this club CEO (Let's hope we can keep him)

Our Media team is very professional

Some of the dregs-on-the-field have left the club

Our budget on wages is down and continuing to go down

And our managers are less and less ambitious

So good luck Ian Hollyway...But Tony don't spin it as though bringing back Holloway and Bircham is some great feat

[sharky]

Let's not turn the return of Ollie into a TF bashing please. Let's celebrate and look forward to better times ahead without "spinning" it please.

[harr]

Nov 13, 2016 12:41:12 GMT terryb said:

Nov 12, 2016 20:51:00 GMT harr said:

c

We just accepted last season months before the end that we wouldnt be going anywhere and said lets start a fresh In August.

Sadly 15-16 games later things were going backwards.

I think Ramsey had 20 points after 15 games and NW got us 8 points from 4 games.
So Jimmy got about 32 points in 27 games, barely more than a point a game last year and barely over a point a game this year.

So lets just stay up and see where we can finish this season.
I will be looking at how we start again next August with a few more Leaders in the team, which Ollie will get and playing with a bit more passion.

I doubt you will see us being turned over so easy at home like Preston, Brentford , Newcastle either.

I will be interested to see where we are a year today in terms of progression, what the general performances are like and not rolling over.

We wont win all the games and will still lose quite a few but my bet is you will gradually see things are changing over the next year and I for one will be backing him.

I dont think our expectations will be great at all.

Well, in a poll on LFW 10% are expecting an Ollie led charge to the Premier League!

I know that is not really representative, but reading other boards (as well as some on here) I think you will be surprised how many are expecting miracles from the man.

It could be that those people will be unforgiving to Ollie come February/March if we are not in the play off picture or if we are having the same results/performances as when Ollie was placed on "gardening leave".

After all, many of these people expected Ramsay & JFH to win the Championship! Why would they alter their views for Ollie?

I hope that I'm wrong, but many a Rangers fan who is excited at the moment may be quick to change to bitterness if their expectations are not met.

Unfortunately, Ollie could then take the flack instead of TF, as TF would state that he made the appointment that the supporters wanted.

Anyhow, bring on next Saturday. LR will be buzzing! As should the away end be at Portman Road the following week (tickets just purchased).

I would imagine that 10% are being unrealistic Terry.
Even next Feb If we are not in the play off picture I will be happy, hopefully away from the bottom places.
Really we should just play out this season and try to push on in the Summer.

Sadly though you are always going to get a small minority that want to much to soon, would have been the same even if we had hired Clement or Rowett.

[bowranger]

Nov 13, 2016 13:33:19 GMT harr said:

Nov 13, 2016 12:41:12 GMT terryb said:

I dont think our expectations will be great at all.

Well, in a poll on LFW 10% are expecting an Ollie led charge to the Premier League!

I know that is not really representative, but reading other boards (as well as some on here) I think you will be surprised how many are expecting miracles from the man.

It could be that those people will be unforgiving to Ollie come February/March if we are not in the play off picture or if we are having the same results/performances as when Ollie was placed on "gardening leave".

After all, many of these people expected Ramsay & JFH to win the Championship! Why would they alter their views for Ollie?

I hope that I'm wrong, but many a Rangers fan who is excited at the moment may be quick to change to bitterness if their expectations are not met.

Unfortunately, Ollie could then take the flack instead of TF, as TF would state that he made the appointment that the supporters wanted.

Anyhow, bring on next Saturday. LR will be buzzing! As should the away end be at Portman Road the following week (tickets just purchased).

I would imagine that 10% are being unrealistic Terry.
Even next Feb If we are not in the play off picture I will be happy, hopefully away from the bottom places.
Really we should just play out this season and try to push on in the Summer.

Sadly though you are always going to get a small minority that want to much to soon, would have been the same even if we had hired Clement or Rowett.

Thought this was a good summation from Clive LFW:

Mark Hughes won one of his first eight, Harry Redknapp two of his first 14, Chris Ramsey three of his first 14, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink one of his first nine. That’s usually enough for a significant minority of people to decide the new manager is rubbish.

From that point on the chosen one is only ever four consecutive poor performances away from the sack. There’s no consideration of QPR’s size – 18,000 seater stadium, 12,500 through the door for the recent Bristol City game – or lack of infrastructure or what the manager inherited or how many transfer windows he’s had to correct it. The people of Shepherd’s Bush are now used to four poor performances equalling the sack and on the rare occasions the club does hold on beyond that, they start to get a bit aggy about it. The manager is often given a playground nickname – we’re probably about six months away from ‘Hollowhead’ – and there's a rush of online comment immediately after every defeat from furious masses, many of whom weren't actually at the game and none of whom you hear from after a win. If the sitting duck makes it to nine or ten months you’ll catch people saying things like “maybe it would be best if we do get thrashed at home by Reading just to get him the sack”.

[bowranger]

Oh god I'm watching the 2003/4 promotion retrospective on youtube at work. There's...something in my eye.

[kerrins]

In Mr Motivator we trust Good luck Ollie you will need it.

Quite right everyone who says that it is unrealistic to expect a promotion push.

With that poor squad of players we have had ever since the summer of 2015...No chance!

I can perfectly understand people giving reasons for our woeful transfer strategy during the last 16 months. Plenty of healthy debate there....but what is beyond me is that why some supporters wont ADMIT that our group of players are mostly dud. Even now there are some folks who still insist we have a good squad of players.(??)

In the words of Jim Royle...Good squad of players my arse!

[bowranger]

Nov 14, 2016 11:34:28 GMT kerrins said:

In Mr Motivator we trust Good luck Ollie you will need it.

Quite right everyone who says that it is unrealistic to expect a promotion push.

With that poor squad of players we have had ever since the summer of 2015...No chance!

I can perfectly understand people giving reasons for our woeful transfer strategy during the last 16 months. Plenty of healthy debate there....but what is beyond me is that why some supporters wont ADMIT that our group of players are mostly dud. Even now there are some folks who still insist we have a good squad of players.(??)

In the words of Jim Royle...Good squad of players my arse!

Debate is healthy but it's beyond you why some people won't "admit" to accepting your view, how does that work? Considering our budget and the quality of players we're now taking risks on, I think we have got a pretty good squad in terms of our level (mid-to-lower Championship with some encouraging signs for improvement given the right system/tactics). I think calling our squad "mostly dud" is massively wide of the mark. If that's the case, who are the non-duds? Then we can see who's left.

[Marc]

Nov 14, 2016 11:34:28 GMT kerrins said:

In Mr Motivator we trust Good luck Ollie you will need it.

Quite right everyone who says that it is unrealistic to expect a promotion push.

With that poor squad of players we have had ever since the summer of 2015...No chance!

I can perfectly understand people giving reasons for our woeful transfer strategy during the last 16 months. Plenty of healthy debate there....but what is beyond me is that why some supporters wont ADMIT that our group of players are mostly dud. Even now there are some folks who still insist we have a good squad of players.(??)

In the words of Jim Royle...Good squad of players my arse!

That "woeful transfer strategy" that you bring up in every single post has been dictated by the cub's finances and has been absolutely the correct thing to do.. They've taken a punt on younger, lesser experienced players necessitated by budget. Some have worked out, some haven't. That's how it works for all clubs with a limited budget.

I remember asking you last year who we should have signed. You came back with one name, a premier league player well into his 30s so it's pretty clear which route you think the club should be taking. It seems it's not only our owners who need to learn lessons.

[nomar]

Nov 14, 2016 12:52:55 GMT Marc said:

Nov 14, 2016 11:34:28 GMT kerrins said:

In Mr Motivator we trust Good luck Ollie you will need it.

Quite right everyone who says that it is unrealistic to expect a promotion push.

With that poor squad of players we have had ever since the summer of 2015...No chance!

I can perfectly understand people giving reasons for our woeful transfer strategy during the last 16 months. Plenty of healthy debate there....but what is beyond me is that why some supporters wont ADMIT that our group of players are mostly dud. Even now there are some folks who still insist we have a good squad of players.(??)

In the words of Jim Royle...Good squad of players my arse!

That "woeful transfer strategy" that you bring up in every single post has been dictated by the cub's finances and has been absolutely the correct thing to do.. They've taken a punt on younger, lesser experienced players necessitated by budget. Some have worked out, some haven't. That's how it works for all clubs with a limited budget.

I remember asking you last year who we should have signed. You came back with one name, a premier league player well into his 30s so it's pretty clear which route you think the club should be taking. It seems it's not only our owners who need to learn lessons.

And herein lies the problem.

If we go down the route he wants, and it inevitably fails, he'd probably be the first one to moan that we need to buy young, hungry players from the Championship and lower leagues.

Cannot win with some people.

[sharky]

Interesting article from Dave Mac at westlondonsport

www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/football-wls-take-rose-tinted-glasses-off-holloway-still-qpr-hero

Take the rose-tinted glasses off and Holloway is still a QPR hero

By David McIntyre 15/11/2016

My 17 years covering QPR have been eventful to say the least, never more so than during Ian Holloway’s five-year spell as manager.

That spell is often seen through rose-tinted glasses, without which Holloway and his first reign can both be seen in a much less favourable light.

And yet, Holloway, warts and all, deserves his status as a QPR hero and in many ways is now a much better manager.

The vampire

It started with a press conference in which Holloway, recently sacked by Bristol Rovers and perceived as a thoroughly uninspiring appointment, initially seemed intent on picking up where Gerry Francis left off.

Francis, whose dismal team were heading for relegation, was always quick to point out that he didn’t need football and could walk away.

Holloway duly began by explaining he had enjoyed time off with his family and had been in no rush to get back into football. It all sounded depressingly familiar.

Then he declared: “But once you’re bitten, you’re a bloody vampire, and I can’t wait to get started!”

From that moment, everything changed.

The cave

Holloway went on to be credited with restoring pride to the club, as well as tangible success in the form of promotion and a good first season in the Championship.

But it was off the pitch that the manager few initially wanted began to establish himself as a fans favourite.

Recently sacked by a club in the division below, and propelled into what he regarded as a dream job, he might have been forgiven for seeking to stay firmly on-message with the top brass.

Not a bit of it. At a time when a merger or relocation were being discussed, he threw his lot in with the fans.

So much so that after a conversation with Holloway in which he famously insisted “This is our cave and this is where we live” in response to a proposed move to the Heathrow area, I asked if he was sure he wanted to take such a strong tone. He was clear; he wanted to show solidarity with the fans.

Holloway was willing to defend Chris Wright, arguing the then club owner had lost millions and had tried his best. But he was not keen on some of the ideas being put forward for the post-Wright era Rangers were entering.

A few weeks later, at Huddersfield after relegation had been confirmed, we spoke by the side of the pitch.

Again his words helped cement his support among a previously sceptical fan base. His pledge that “everything we’ve lost we’ll get back” struck a chord in a big way.

The Terminal

The words were backed up by action. In came several players whose contributions mean they remain popular figures today.

The play-offs, promotion at Hillsborough, a noisy and often full Loftus Road; it’s an era fondly remembered and rightly so.

But behind the scenes, a storm was brewing.

Gianni Paladini had come on board, bringing Antonio Caliendo and money from Monaco with him, and a bad run of results in the Championship led to former Argentina international Ramon Diaz being lined up to take over.

It’s not easy to tell a manager you’re about to run a story, seemingly completely out of the blue, that he’s set to be replaced by a guy who has just touched down in London.

I know no other manager whose concern wouldn’t understandably be for himself and his position. After taking the news in for a second, his main gripe was that this Diaz bloke would be given money to spend on players that he had been hoping to have. It was an extraordinary response, yet typical Holloway.

He looked a goner that day. But he remained popular with fans and there seemed a chance that if news of the board’s plan broke before the deal was done, the response from supporters and players might save him.

That response was an outcry from fans, Diaz put on hold, and a seven-match winning run that kept the Holloway bandwagon going for a while yet.

He cheekily compared Diaz to a Tom Hanks character in a film, The Terminal, released around that time, in which a man is forced to live in an airport after being denied entry to the USA.

The myths

But there were problems – and several misconceptions about the Holloway years.

The first is that he in some way achieved promotion on a shoestring budget.

By third-tier standards, QPR’s spending was nothing less than lavish.

No other club at that level could even have considered signing players on the wages of some of the crowd favourites from that era.

Rangers had been in administration, but the hierarchy were determined to shield the playing side from the financial hardship the club as a whole was suffering.

The infamous £10m loan from ABC Corporation, which led to Rangers coming out of administration, was eventually rightly regarded as being a huge problem and a threat to the club’s future.

But it wasn’t just used to repay debts. It’s purpose was also to provide “working capital”. In other words, the ABC loan, although justifiably maligned, basically funded QPR’s promotion challenge.

Supporters were later led to believe – by the club, not the well-meaning fans who organised a fund – that they were collecting money in buckets to save an ailing QPR. That was never the case.

It was all so Holloway could have yet another striker in Jamie Cureton, because Rangers were struggling to sustain a promotion challenge in the third tier even with top strikers at that level in Kevin Gallen, Paul Furlong and Tony Thorpe.

That summed up some of the excesses of the Holloway years, although it is portrayed as a time of tight budgets and success built on spirit.

That spirit would have counted for little had his squad not been so regularly topped up when he was in trouble – and there were times of trouble.

Immediately after losing 4-0 in the FA Cup at Swansea, then in the bottom division, he was able to bring back Gallen. When he was on the verge of the sack after the Vauxhall Motors debacle and a 4-0 loss at home to Cardiff, in came Lee Cook.

For all the romanticism about the spirit at QPR during Holloway’s reign compared to more recently, there were times back then when performances and the mood around Loftus Road was comparable to now. And what got things going again wasn’t some dose of managerial magic, it was more players – more money.

Ultimate proof of Holloway’s reliance on these top-ups came further down the line when they were no longer an option. He was out very quickly.

That said, he then went on to achieve success elsewhere, including promotion with Blackpool on a very modest budget.

But the fact remains that while Holloway was a great, inspirational leader, there was a team effort to shield him from financial issues and give his side the best possible chance.

For example, much is made of the attendances and atmosphere during that time, but that was also down to good marketing and pricing and other factors too.

QPR, for an all-too brief period between Wright and Paladini’s board coup, were a well run, close-knit club.

The battle for control

Despite being seen as the ultimate symbol of how it used to be, Holloway himself played a huge part in QPR’s shift away from being that kind of club.

The reason? The biggest Holloway myth of all is the widely-held belief that he was a victim of Paladini’s seizing of control. This is simply not the case.

Around the time of the 2005 power struggle which Paladini and Caliendo won, enabling them to remove Bill Power as chairman, Mark Devlin as chief executive and director Kevin McGrath, and subsequently purge QPR of a number of others and fundamentally change the character of the club, Holloway was an ardent supporter of theirs.

Having put the Diaz episode down to problems during the getting-to-know-you stage, Holloway and Paladini had grown increasingly close. The common perception that they were at odds is totally wrong.

However history has been written, Holloway was firmly in Paladini and Caliendo’s corner, aggressively defending them to their detractors during a bitter, ugly battle for the heart and soul of the club.

Given his standing among fans, had Holloway gone the opposite way and been willing to publicly back the other side, Paladini might have been a lame duck from the start.

Some might argue that he needed to protect his own position under threat from a new regime. But this is the man who, on much less secure ground some years earlier, was so willing to speak his mind.

In truth, at a time when the likes of Devlin were prioritising the club’s long-term health, Paladini had worked on Holloway and won him over by painting a picture of a rosy future in which the priority would be signing players – lots of them. It was to prove a hallmark of the Paladini era.

When it all turned sour, Holloway implied that signings had been imposed on him. But at the time, he was happy to have Paladini alongside him bringing players in, and furious at any suggestion the new owners were taking the club in the wrong direction.

It’s not even the case that Paladini was the main driver in Holloway being put on gardening leave in 2006.

The late Harold Winton, the club’s life president who had been putting money into QPR so had huge sway, put Paladini – who had never even heard of the term ‘gardening leave’ – under pressure, arguing that the manager’s previously bubbly, unifying personality had changed, and that his time was up.

Winton felt he had been hugely supportive of Holloway, including during difficult times, and had grown increasingly unhappy with events on and off the pitch – including Holloway’s previous support for Paladini.

So Holloway was shunted out amid a cock-and-bull story about it being because he had discussed taking the manager’s job at Leicester.

The aftermath

Years on, the events of 2005, which reshaped QPR as a club, can be seen in some kind of context.

First of all, any suggestion that Holloway underachieved with the budget he had now seems laughable in light of the riches QPR have since squandered.

Secondly, other good people put their faith in Paladini and ended up worse off for it.

They include Holloway’s replacement, Gary Waddock, who neglected to keep senior players on-side, believing better ones were about to arrive, and was left disappointed.

Others behind the scenes have similar stories to tell. Power himself had championed Paladini before civil war broke out.

A measure of Holloway’s impact as a manager, and how he is regarded as a person, is the esteem in which he is held by all who were at the club during his first spell – even those affected by the 2005 coup.

There is no bitterness there. Far from it. Power in particular was livid at the manner of Holloway’s departure and McGrath has long been in favour of his return.

6 Nov
Matt Winton @mattwinton1
Had to sack JFH. Think Sherwood would fail to as well if appointed. The track record proves QPR is almost an impossible job.

Bill Power
@williamcpower
@mattwinton1 it's not Matt, but it has to be someone who knows and understands our club and when I say club I mean our fans too.
6:53 AM - 6 Nov 2016
2 Retweets 3 likes

Matt Winton
@mattwinton1
Restore some passion & pride ✅
Knows what QPR fans want to watch✅
Great track record working with attacking players ✅
No brainier: Ollie ✅
3:20 PM - 10 Nov 2016
6 Retweets 33 likes

Yes there were ups and downs, but no-one involved with QPR at the time disputes that Holloway was an inspirational leader and lovable guy who dragged the club up by its bootstraps.

And his love for the club was genuine. He often told me, usually during difficult times, that managing QPR was “more than a job” to him. I’ve not come across many since who’ve felt that way.

The transformation

Holloway has also evolved as a manager.

He was deeply affected by a bad experience at Rovers, who played lovely football under him and were top of the table for much of the 1999/2000 season only to disintegrate and fail to even secure a play-off place.

In contrast, Kenny Jackett, who was Holloway’s assistant until 2004, had been with Graham Taylor at Watford, who reached the Premiership after winning two consecutive promotions playing much more agricultural football.

That influenced Holloway in a big way and for much of his time at QPR he favoured a very direct style and had little time for individual flair.

This changed when he reevaluated after a disastrous spell at Leicester, who were relegated six months after his arrival from Plymouth.

As a result, Holloway is a very different manager to when he was at QPR, placing much more emphasis on fluidity and allowing players to express themselves. It paid off spectacularly at Blackpool and more success followed at Crystal Palace.

The right fit

His most recent venture, at Millwall, was far from successful. But that maybe underlines the fact that management is rarely a one-size-fits-all thing.

Millwall’s cult heroes are Terry Hurlock and Barry Kitchener, not Stan Bowles and Rodney Marsh. An enlightened Ian Holloway wasn’t the right fit.

QPR know all about this. Their recent history has been the story of having good players and managers, just not ones suited to Rangers.

Harry Redknapp and particularly Mark Hughes, along with many players, have been vilified by R’s fans, but have achieved success elsewhere. QPR just wasn’t the right place for them.

Holloway, on the other hand, understands QPR. And I mean really understands it.

It’s one thing to be astute in his recent role as a pundit, it’s another to truly understand the intricacies of a club in the way Holloway does when it comes to QPR.

Leaving Rangers meant, mercifully for him, we no longer came into regular contact. But on the rare occasions I’ve spoken to him about events at QPR since he left, his analysis of the club and the issues at play is absolutely spot on. Remarkably so.

This will help him when it comes to the important stuff, namely what occurs on the pitch. The two cannot be separated. It’s why other managers have failed at QPR despite enjoying success elsewhere.

The sparkle

Will he succeed this time around?

Perhaps the most important factor will be which Ian Holloway Rangers are getting.

At Palace and Millwall, he seemed a shadow of his former self – similar to his final months at QPR – and in clear need of a break.

Now he’s had one, if Holloway can again breath new life into the club with his enthusiasm and leadership qualities, coupled with a desire to play attractive football, the decision to bring him back might well be vindicated.

In the Football Manager era, there’s lots of talk about tactics. But management is primarily about personality, as Holloway and Neil Warnock have shown at Rangers in the last decade or so.

Some will tell you Redknapp was a useless manager. Nonsense. Having to manage at the sharp end after doing so at the top level, he simply lost his sparkle.

Holloway, on the other hand, is back in the job he’s long been willing to give his right arm to return to.

And if he can rediscover his sparkle, he might restore QPR’s too.

[Marc]

[Marc]

Marc reunites with Ollie in W12 …

Marc Bircham has been named QPR’s new First Team Coach
Bircham’s arrival follows hot-on-the-heels of Ian Holloway’s return as Manager on Friday
Bircham describes appointment as ‘dream come true’
MARC Bircham has been appointed as QPR’s new First Team Coach.

The news sees Bircham – a boyhood Rangers fan who made 167 appearances for the R’s during his playing days – reunite with boss Ian Holloway, whom he last worked with during their time together at Millwall.

Bircham returns to the UK after spending the last 22 months working in America, initially as Assistant Head Coach at Chicago Fire, before a spell at Arizona United.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Bircham expressed his delight at returning to QPR, commenting: “It really is a dream come true.

“QPR are the only club I’d have moved back to England for and the opportunity to work with Ollie again, at a club that we both know inside-out, was just too good to turn down.

“QPR are my club. I’ve supported Rangers all my life and I couldn’t be happier or more proud to be working alongside Ian, who gave me the best days of my professional career here.”

Bircham admits his last trip to Loftus Road, when he was inducted into The Forever R’s Club last month, pulled at the heart-strings, adding: “It felt like a bit of a homecoming when I was here with the legends in October – and I must admit that’s when it really hit home how much I missed Loftus Road.

“Now, thanks to Ollie and Les (Ferdinand), two men I respect and admire greatly, I’ve got a fantastic opportunity to continue my coaching career at the one place I’ve always wanted to be.”

Read more at www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/qpr-marc-bircham-ian-holloway-3416449.aspx#AMUEIdEfOct3catw.99