Blackpool boss Holloway in quit threat

Ian Holloway claims he will resign as Blackpool manager if the Premier League fine his club after he fielded a weakened team in the 3-2 defeat against Aston Villa.

Holloway made 10 changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Everton at the weekend, with only Keith Southern retaining his place, and Blackpool’s stand-ins were within one minute of getting a point.

Stewart Downing had given Villa the lead before Marlon Harewood equalised against his former club.

Nathan Delfouneso restored Villa’s advantage but DJ Campbell again hauled Blackpool level, only for James Collins to the head thr last minute winner.

But, despite Blackpool’s impressive showing, Holloway is aware Wolves were given a suspended 25,000 pounds fine by the Premier League last season after boss Mick McCarthy made 10 changes for a match against Manchester United.

Asked what he would do if the Premier League impose the same punishment on his club, Holloway said: “I’d pack in, I can’t work for this madness. I would resign. They do not know what they’re talking about.”

Holloway denied he made the changes with Saturday’s crucial match against struggling West Ham in mind and said: “You haven’t got to be a genius to work out what happened to Wolves last year and how wrong that was. Mick can pick whoever he likes.

“We deserved at least a point and how dare anybody tell me the players I’ve been working with, I can’t treat them with respect and give them a chance.

“Because they should have played before now. I wasn’t sure they were ready, tonight they have enhanced their reputation with me.

“Let some person from the Premier League even try to tell me who I can pick. I am the manager of Blackpool Football Club and I select people to come to the club and play them whenever I want.

“I’m going to come here and try to beat Aston Villa and I’m going to go to West Ham and try to beat them and all. If I pick a different team, I’ve got every right to do what I like.

“Let them try and fine me, it’s an absolute disgrace. I’ll show the Premier League. We were a credit to football, and let the Premier League try to tell me otherwise.”

Villa boss Gerard Houllier admitted he was surprised by the Blackpool line-up.

“When I saw their team line-up I was extremely worried because it happened to me twice,” he said.

“Once I had to do it myself for a cup game and we won, and it happened also when I was at Liverpool and Sunderland came with a depleted team and they won.

“The team you are going to play have nothing to lose, they throw everything at you. We were a bit anxious, a bit nervous because we needed the points.”