EPL news: Karl Oyston vows to keep hold of Ian Holloway at Blackpool
Blackpool’s chairman Karl Oyston has come out fighting amidst reports linking his club’s manager Ian Holloway to more ‘glorious’ English Premier League outfits. Such reports also surfaced in the summer as newspapers speculated
on Holloway’s possible appointment as Fulham’s manager after Roy Hodgson left for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809. However, back then Holloway himself squashed such reports after he committed himself to the Seasiders. Holloway was responsible for leading the Seasiders to the English
Premier League last season after they finished sixth in the Championship. In their follow up play-off matches against Cardiff City, Blackpool ended up as comprehensive winners.
In the past 48 hours, Blackpool have been in the news for all the wrong reasons as they were fined 25,000 pounds after fielding an under-strength side in their 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa in November, 2010. Back then, Ian Holloway
made ten changes to his starting line-up and defended his decision to do so. Later on, Holloway admitted that he will part ways with the club if Oyston thought that doing so was in the best interests of Blackpool as a football club altogether.
Yesterday, Oyston made it clear that he wanted to retain the Blackpool manager at all costs and the Premier League’s decision to fine the club had not had an effect on Ian’s status at Blackpool. Oyston stated that he supports the
decision made by his club's manager. He added that he will not even consider the option of Holloway's resignation or dismissal because he has been a positive influence on the club.
Oyston went onto criticize the English Premier League for their decision to fine the club. Karl outlined that Holloway had selected all the players from the nominated 25-man squad which was submitted to the EPL at the end of the
summer transfer window in 2010. Thus, nothing in conflict with the rules had been practiced by Holloway himself.
Karl further said, “I've got real difficulties grasping the logic that's been applied to this on several levels. This game has been turned into a squad game by the Premier League, not us. We've named our squad in good faith and
we intend to use all of that squad and the manager should be allowed to.” Blackpool have two more weeks to appeal the decision made by the English Premier League but it is unlikely that they will do so, as such a gesture might incur a heavier fine.
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