Holloway makes Blackpool vow

Holloway: Happy to stay at Blackpool

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway insists he has no intention of quitting Bloomfield Road to manage another club.

Reports have suggested Holloway could be in line to take over as manager of fellow strugglers West Ham if they dispense with the services of Avram Grant.

However, Holloway has pledged to stay at Blackpool, vowing never to repeat the mistake he made by leaving Plymouth in 2007 for an ill-fated spell at Leicester.

“I had a contract at Plymouth, I walked out on it and I will never do that again,” Holloway said.

Proud

“I’ve got a contract here for this year and next year and I’m delighted and very proud to be a very small part of a magnificent football club.

“I saw it again the other evening, the statue we have outside now of Jimmy Armfield – this is an amazing club with an amazing history, and I like to feel that I have added to that.”

Holloway insists his future at Bloomfield Road will be determined by Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston.

“I’ve got a great relationship with my chairman, who will choose when I’m not here anymore,” added Holloway.

“I wouldn’t have signed my contract for the length that I did if I wasn’t totally intent on seeing it through.”

“I’ve got a contract here for this year and next year and I’m delighted and very proud to be a very small part of a magnificent football club”
Ian Holloway on his future Quotes of the week

Asked what would happen if he were to be headhunted by another club, Holloway said: “It would be nothing to do with me – my chairman would have to say ‘these people want you, I don’t want you anymore and you can go.’

“If he doesn’t want me to go then I would be happy to sit with him and discuss the length of a contract.

“Football isn’t how it used to be, but this football club is and that is what I love about it.

Treasure it

“Every day I’ve been at this football club I’ve tried to treasure it and polish the badge, and I haven’t finished polishing yet.

“I was polishing Plymouth and I decided to leave that. I never explained why and I hate to say it, but I was wrong.

“I’m sorry for that and I’m sorry to Leicester for letting them down.

“I’m certainly never, ever going to bite the hand that feeds me.

“I make mistakes once and learn from them, and that is what I have done.”