Holloway adapts to new realities

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway is still coming to terms with the massive increase in local interest caused by his side’s promotion.

The unheralded club were promoted to the English Premier League via the Championship play-offs last season, with Holloway working wonders on a low budget.

They have punched above their weight in the early part of the campaign, and their headline-making exploits attracted plenty of onlookers as they trained at a local school ahead of Saturday’s home match against league-leaders Manchester United.

“It’s all very different,” Holloway said.

“Last year we trained at Marsco College and nobody was watching and today it was full – people were there, missing their lessons watching us training.”

“I just wanted them to go back in – they’re not going to learn anything watching us, so it’s all very different and totally enjoyable I have to say.”

Holloway hit out at his star-struck players early in the season, accusing them of being more interested in swapping shirts than winning points.

But does the former Bristol Rovers and Queens Park Rangers manager believe the squad are now accustomed to coming up against some of the game’s biggest names every week?

“I haven’t really checked to be honest,” Holloway said.

“If they do that I would understand it to be honest, but I wouldn’t do it myself. I would be more concerned trying to stay in the level and believe I deserve to be in the level if I was of them.”

“But you know as weeks go on they get more experienced and understand more about this division. I hope they feel the same as I do, that they want to be in it more than anything. So all those feelings and experiences should be going by now.”