Ian Holloway proud of relegated Blackpool but admits squad will break up in the summer

Ian Holloway, Blackpool

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By Greg Stobart at Old Trafford

Ian Holloway insisted he was proud of his Blackpool side despite their relegation from the Premier League after a 4-2 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday.

Many pundits expected Blackpool to go down after their promotion from the Championship last season – but Holloway’s side took it to the last day of their debut Premier League bow and finished just one point below 17th placed Wolves.

Tangerines manager Holloway has earned plaudits for Blackpool’s style of play this season and he admits he expects the squad to break up now a number of players have proved they can be successful in the top flight.

“The fat lady has finished singing and unfortunately I don’t like her tune,” Holloway reflected. “That’s it in football. You’re famous for two seconds in football and then you’re gone.

“I’m really proud of my team. We needed to win here, which nobody has done. I honestly believed we could do it.

“We had a go, my players bridged all sorts of gaps and we shocked them a bit. I don’t blame anybody, that’s just the way it goes.

“It was very exciting. We were part of it and we won’t be next year. I sit here as a proud man with how we have had to do things.

“I don’t think we will be able to keep this team together. None of those players will want to play in the Championship and others are out of contract.

“I know what they are earning and none of them will want to do it.

“It will be a long time before I get a group that’s as good as that. They were absolutely exceptional, from the start of my job here to the end of it.

“The way some of them played for the money they are earning was quite phenomenal.”

Holloway admits he faces a tough task in rebuilding Blackpool next season and once again hit out at the Premier League, accusing them of forcing him to tell players they would not have their contracts renewed six days before the end of the season.

He added: “What chance has a minnow got? These lads are running on empty. I had to tell them all on Monday who was staying and who is going.

“People like Kingson, Harewood and Ormerod were sat on the bench knowing we won’t be taking up the option next season. Talk about de-motivating my group.

“Evatt, Fletcher and Southern know that their wages are going to be halved next year. It’s nowhere near a decent Championship wage.

“How would you have felt if you were me on Monday? There are so many problems I want to talk to them the Premier League about.

“They made me pick a 25-man squad and when I used it we were fined ￡25,000.”