Ian Holloway Exclusive Interview with OLBG

Exclusive interview with Ian Holloway: Why Pep is up there with Sir Alex as the GOAT manager, how much Brighton have impressed, Maresca picking up a ‘poisoned chalice’ at Chelsea, why Lopetegiu could be the first manager to get sacked, Raheem Sterling at Chelsea and why he would love Wilf Zaha to return to Palace
Ian Holloway Exclusive Interview with OLBG
Steve Madgwick
Steve Madgwick Editor-In-Chief

Editor-In-Chief with 20 years experience covering the betting angles to breaking news stories. Daily slots player, Portsmouth fan and League Snooker Player

August 2024 Interview

Speaking exclusively to OLBG, Ian Holloway has named Lopetegiu as the front-runner of the sack race, stating he’s got to be ‘very careful’.

Holloway has discussed Maresca having potential issues with his squad and thinks ‘it’s mad’ that he didn’t sit down and tell Stirling his plans for the season.

The former Crystal Palace manager says he’d like to see Wilf Zaha back in a Palace shirt and that he’d “pick him up…and drop him off” himself.

He also explains why he thinks Pep is up there with Sir Alex as the GOAT manager in the Premier League.

Q: Do you think Manchester City can win the Premier League?

IH: “It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing what Pep Guardiola is doing. 

It’s a wonderful thing what Pep Guardiola is doing. But come up with your own ideas, don't just copy Pep. Football's a bit like boxing; you gotta get a punch in here and there! 🥊⚽️

Ian Holloway

“The way they play, everybody's trying to emulate that and copy that because he doesn't want to just beat you, he wants to embarrass you and not give you the ball and then strangle you when you get it. And if you don't learn how to do that, if you don't learn very quickly how to stop his team doing it, they will dominate you - it's a very tough task. 

“I just hope that everybody doesn't try and copy him. You've got to get your own ideas. We've got some great new people coming into the game, new young managers, a fresh young breed of people coming in and I want them to sort a way of doing it, not play the same way because football is a bit like boxing, you gotta get the odd punch in here and there and you can't just do it the same way or you'll become predictable. 

“Come up with your own ideas, don't just copy Pep.

“I've seen some brilliant managers in my time. Obviously, Sir Alex Ferguson is not managing anymore, he is probably the best, but Pep is up there with all of them, if not forging a new set of rules that you've got to try and follow if you want to be the GOAT.”

Q: Which team do you think has made the best signings and are there any players that have caught your eye?

IH: “I'm impressed with Brighton. I think that Palace fans won't like what I'm saying, but the way that they steadily keep moving, they've got their identity, they've got their ground from nothing and they're building and they're growing. 

They're steadily building, with an identity and a solid model. No Chelsea-style spending, just smart moves and data-driven decisions. They're impressive! 👏🔵⚪️

📢 Ian Holloway on Brighton:

“They’ve got yet another manager that I hadn't heard of (Fabian Hürzeler), their away from home, won three-nil against Everton. It was unbelievable for me, now, a new bloke walked in after De Zerbi. I was a little bit concerned about what was going to happen to them, the way they do it and the way Brentford do it, this is the model.

“They're not doing a Chelsea, throwing all sorts of money at it. What they're doing is utilising what they've got, moving them on, and using a huge percentage of that money to buy someone else who’s unbelievably out on their radar and knows what they're doing with the data they get. And then they go and get him and he's even better than the one they just sold. Wow, how well they're doing it.”

Q: If you did have your time again, which squad right now of Premier League players would you most likely want to manage and why?

IH: “I imagine me in the top flight again, trying to lift this lot and have a go with them. I'm taking out the club, Arsenal's set of players excites me.

I imagine me in the top flight again, trying to lift this lot. Arsenal's players excite me: their balance, attack-mindedness, and energy. They’re growing into winners. It might just be their time! 🟥⚽️

Ian Holloway

“I love the balance, I love the attack-mindedness of them, I love the way they rotate and they move and they play and they close down, I love it. 

“It was a thrilling season last season and I'm hoping they might be able to go one better. 

“It would be Arsenal out of all of that, and I like the ambition that the players show, I like how brave they are, the closing, the energy, and they're growing, they're growing into learning how to win. Winners aren't born, they're made, they're losers who never give up. 

“To see them grow and get much better last year, to get much closer and not do it, I would love the opportunity just to sit there and say one or two things that I've learned in my lifetime to one or two individuals that actually you can do this. Do you realize how good you actually are? It could be their time.”

Q: Which Premier League manager in your opinion is going to win the Sack Race this season?

IH: “Anybody could. Absolutely anybody could. It is so mad the way that things are. I would change the rules personally. I would make it whoever you start with as a manager, has to finish the season and then it's only in the end of the season you can change your manager. 

Anybody could. The media's always looking for who's next. Managers get undermined all the time. I'd change the rules: whoever you start with should finish the season. I hope nobody gets sacked! 🤞⚽️

Ian Holloway on the Sack Race:

“They get undermined all the time, the media are looking for who's going to be next. So, it could be anybody who loses in maybe three or four of the first five or six games.

“In the championship, somebody's gone already - Ryan Lowe was already gone. I mean, that’s absolutely mad. They got a caretaker in for almost the start of the season.

“So, at the end of the day, the obvious thing is it's about your squad you're inheriting or you're building. Are you allowed to bring in the right people?

“If you bring in too many people and they're not gonna be used, or if you pick up a group that's already got too many in and they're not gonna be used, then it builds and it gets ugly because you can say things on social media these days. 

“So, those managers have a terrible, terrible problem. 

“If I could have had a word with Mr. Maresca, Leicester City, who's now gone to Chelsea, I would have said, excuse me, Mr. Maresca, don't go, just stay where you are, thank you. Why do you want to pick up a squad with someone as good as Raheem Sterling, who you're not gonna select because you might want him to move, but you haven't sat down and told him yet, you know? And 25 -man squad, you got a name. So, it could be any one of these wonderful people, and to me, they won't deserve it, you know?

“There's some tough ones. Mr. Lopetegui has got to be very careful because I think West Ham did brilliantly under David Moyes, they've got Mr. Julen Lopetegui. If he doesn't suddenly start hitting it and playing all sorts of football, which I don't know if he does play, he might be in trouble because this is the way things go, everybody was aiming at Erik ten Hag last year and I'm sick and fed up of hearing about it. 

“I've been there, I've worn the shoes and I don't like it, so I hope nobody gets sacked this season.”

Q: What are your thoughts on Raheem Sterling at Chelsea?

IH: “I think it's mad, if Mr. Sterling doesn't know he's not in that first squad, if you haven't sat him down and said, look, you're not in my plans, I don't need you. If you haven't done that yet, well, why not? 

It's mad if Sterling doesn't know he's not in the first squad. Be honest with him! I'd make him a leader based on his performances and experience. If I was Sterling, I'd be saying, 'Get me out of here!' ⚽💬

Ian Holloway on Raheem Sterling at Chelsea:

“That doesn't make sense. You can't be friends with him, you gotta upset him and tell him the truth. No, I don't want you. You're gonna need to go. Get your agent, get your move, there you go.

“If this is a club and they're saying, no, no, you paid too much for him. I don't want him, get rid of him now because a squad has to fight together. It has to be there together and I don't believe he caused it. I think he's easily good enough to be a leader in that group, personally speaking, I would have made him a leader in that group - right? At his age, what he's won, what he's like, I would have made him, and on his performances at the end of last season, I'd have definitely. 

“I saw him on the bench too many times when they had a really poor, inexperienced team out there, and I thought it was wrong. So, if I was Mr. Sterling, I would be saying, hang on a minute, get me out of here, this is not right, the manager hasn’t sat me down and told me this. I'm sure how professional this young man is, right? That is a big lapse, that is wrong.”

Q: Can Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich side emulate that of Sir Bobby Robson’s?

IH: “I think they already have by getting there, you know, a couple of promotions in a row, unbelievable. Absolutely fantastic what he picked, up the spirit they've got.

I think they've already emulated Sir Bobby Robson by getting there. Unbelievable promotions, fantastic spirit, and insane football. The joy around Ipswich is wonderful. Sir Bobby is a legend. 🔵⚽️

Ian Holloway on Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich:

“What I'm saying to Ipswich is you are leaders of the way. Some of the football they played was completely insane. And it was wonderful. So I think Kieran's already done that.

“The joy around Ipswich at the moment. They hardly got beat last season at home. They've got to try and keep that going. They were very unlucky on the weekend. 

“For me, Sir Bobby Robson is a complete legend. He went abroad. He won things. He came back.

“The way he was treated by England was unfair, it was not right. What a gentleman.”

Q: How do you think Crystal Palace will get on this season?

IH: “Well, I was a bit worried last season when Roy was the rumours he was going. I thought, my God, what are we going to do now? What is going to happen? 

I was worried last season, but Roy settled everyone. Then Oliver Glasner came in and did an incredible job – 7 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses in 14 games! Just hope we don't lose our best players. Excited for Palace! 🦅⚽️

Ian Holloway on Crystal Palace:

“He came in, he settled everybody down and everybody started playing really well for him. And then it happened to him. And then in came Oliver Glasner and my goodness me, what he did, I know he's done it, it’s quite incredible, he plays a wonderful system.

“He's had 14 games in charge, he's won seven, he's drawn three, and he's only lost four. If you look at the record before he came in, it was quite incredible. What he's done is remarkable. 

“I just hope that we shut the transfer doors and don't lose the best players all the time because that ain't really what Palace need at the moment.

“I'm excited for Palace. I think they've done tremendously well. I think the manager's a great signing and I love the style.”

Q: Do you think Wilfred Zaha will one day return to the Premier League or do you think he is happy?

IH: “If he goes back to Palace. I would love it. There's a building where someone has painted a mural of Wilfred on and no one deserves it better than him. 

If he goes back to Palace, I would love it. There's a mural of him, and no one deserves it more. He's pure, innocent, and a true Palace legend. I'd pick him up and bring him back myself! 🦅❤️

Ian Holloway on Wilfried Zaha:

“He was a beautiful person, a wonderful, pure, innocent man who wanted to play and didn't want people to kick him.

“I had to try and explain why people were going to kick him! And I still think there's more to come from that young man. And if there's anyone who would ever put that shirt on with the pride that is needed, it would be him again.

“I think he would add to what they've got there. Who knows? I would love to see him back at Palace and I know the Palace fans would as well. He is Palace through and through. I can understand why he left, but I would be delighted. 

“I'd go and pick him up and bring him back and drop him off.”

Q: How do you think Leicester City will get on this season and is the current manager Steve Cooper the right man for the job?

IH: “I think he's the perfect man for the job but Mr. Maresca should have stayed in my opinion, I think he's picked up a poisoned chalice at Chelsea. That is not really what he needs to do at this stage of his career. 

Steve Cooper is the perfect man for the job, but Maresca should've stayed. Leicester were excellent last season, and Vardy is still a force. Cooper did amazing things at Forest. Good luck to him and Leicester! 🦊⚽️

Ian Holloway on Leicester City and Steve Cooper:

“I only know that from when I left Plymouth. I shouldn't have left there, I went to Leicester and it all went horribly wrong for me and for Leicester fans. So, I'm not sure they consider me one of their managers, but I was, unfortunately, and what I had to do was clear out. 

“I loved the way they did it last season (Leicester). I thought they were excellent. I thought they were efficient. I thought it was great to watch. They've still got Jamie Vardy, I mean, he scored against Spurs. Pretty good result, I felt. 

“I think Steve Cooper was not badly treated, it's part of management, but what he did for Nottingham Forest was amazing, absolutely amazing. If he was there a bit longer, I think they would have been built into what they could be again.

“Well done to Leicester for spotting it and good luck Steve with your new set of players; they've got good work ethic, they've got an awful lot of talent as well and hopefully it'll go well.”

Q: How do you think QPR will fare this season and what do you think would be a good target for them to aim for?

IH: “As a QPR supporter as well, you know, Gerry Francis turned me into one of those and having been with the club for 10 years, you get to know it. It's like a beautiful old pair of slippers, you put it on, you feel so comfortable. 

As a QPR supporter, I know the ups and downs. The new manager, Martí Cifuentes, has everyone feeling positive. The club needs consistent commitment and fire. Fans, you make a huge difference. Stick with the manager and support the team! 💙⚽️

Ian Holloway on QPR:

“They're used to disappointment and I think the new manager (Martí Cifuentes), they're all very positive, everybody I speak to, very, very positive about this young Spanish man and I'm delighted for him. I think he's done a superb job.

“The club struggles to be committed on a regular basis week in, week out. It struggles to find that desire to go and win and turn a draw into a win, to turn a defeat into a draw. It lacks that fire in the belly.

“My shout-out is to the supporters, you can make a huge difference. You really, truly can if you stick with him. If you like the manager, if you like what he's trying to do, even if it doesn't happen, please stick with it. Get behind it because it was an honour to play in front of that lot and I know they like a good footballer, they've seen brilliant ones throughout their history.”

Q: What are your predictions for QPR vs Plymouth on Saturday and your thoughts on Wayne Rooney's time at Plymouth so far?

IH: “Well, he hasn't had enough time. I know what he wants to do. He wants to play this wonderful, extravagant way that is the future of football. They lost the first game heavily by doing that and his players got to get a grip of it. If that's what the manager wants, you got to learn to do it. 

Wayne Rooney hasn't had enough time at Plymouth. He wants to play an extravagant, future-oriented style. I hope his players adapt and fans are patient. Do I want them to beat QPR? I hope it's a draw, with both teams playing well. Good luck to him. 💙💚⚽️

Ian Holloway on QPR vs. Plymouth:

“I think he knows what he's talking about. I think he's a fantastic example to his team, to his players. I hope they're patient enough and giving him an awful lot of time because I believe he's the sort of brain that we need in the game. 

“Obviously, do I want them to beat QPR? I hope it's a draw to be honest, I hope they both get a point and they both play quite well. 

“I think other people will want to come and play for him. Geographically they might not have wanted to because it is an awful long way down. 

“Good luck to him.”

Q: Who would be your favourites to get promoted from the Championship this season?

IH: “You haven't got to be a genius to look how well Burnley has started under Scott Parker. Obviously, Vincent Kompany went in, couldn't quite get them to do it, bought an awful lot of young players, and didn't have the same team as he finished with because they were all unknowns. 

You don't need to be a genius to see how well Burnley started under Scott Parker. It was a stroke of genius to get him. Leeds will also be dangerous with their quality. I'd have to say Burnley. 🔥🔵
Ian Holloway on Championship promotion favorites:

“Getting Scott Parker in was a stroke of genius. The experience he's got already in his short management career.

“I think Leeds will be dangerous, I liked their manager very much and I thought they were unlucky at the end of last year. 

“I'd have to say Burnley. Now everybody's gonna throw that back at me if I don't get that, but I'd have to say that.”


Ian Holloway Profile

Ian Scott Holloway, widely known as "Ollie", is an acclaimed figure in English football, recognized for his dynamic dual roles as both a player and manager, and his distinctive media presence. Born on 12 March 1963, Holloway's football career spans several decades and is marked by significant accomplishments including promotion to the Premier League with various clubs. His career trajectory, from his roots at Bristol Rovers to his leadership at Grimsby Town, showcases his passion and dedication to the sport. Coupled with his vivacious media personality and interviews, Holloway remains a beloved figure within the football community.

🏃‍♂️ Playing Career:

Emerging from the youth system at Bristol Rovers, Holloway quickly made a name for himself as a skillful midfielder. His time with Wolverhampton Wanderers and several Premier League clubs—including Queens Park Rangers—allowed him to amass around 150 league appearances in five years. Holloway's career apexed with his contribution to Wimbledon's promotion to the top flight in 1986, a status they maintained for an impressive fourteen seasons.

👔 Managerial Career:

After hanging up his boots in 1999, Holloway transitioned into a successful managerial career. His unwavering commitment to Bristol Rovers led to his appointment as a player-manager during his third spell at the club. Further demonstrating his managerial prowess, Holloway guided clubs like Queens Park Rangers, Plymouth Argyle, Leicester City, Blackpool, Crystal Palace, and Millwall to victory, earning several promotions during his stints. Despite a short tenure, Holloway's impactful leadership led to Crystal Palace's promotion to the Premier League in May 2013.

🎤 Media Personality and Legacy:

Known for his West Country accent and light-hearted media interviews, Holloway's vibrant personality earned him a special place among football lovers. His witty responses to media quests and intriguing soundbites often found their way into print, solidifying Holloway's reputation as a charismatic media personality. His autobiography, "Ollie", chronicles his journey through football, sharing insights and experiences amassed over decades of dedication to the sport. Today, Ian "Ollie" Holloway remains a respected figure in the football world, remembered not only for his achievements but also for his infectious enthusiasm for the beautiful game.

Ian Holloway Interview December 2023

Ian Holloway exclusive: I’m waiting for a job like Tom Hanks in Castaway and my wife is my Wilson, Stoke vacancy interests me and Joey Barton has to think about what he says

Speaking to OLBG, ex-Bristol Rovers, QPR, Plymouth Argyle, Leicester City, Blackpool, Crystal Palace, Millwall and Grimsby Town manager Ian Holloway gives his opinion on Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United and managing Wilfried Zaha, who he hopes will return to the Premier League.

What have you made of the current situation at Man Utd?

IH: “Look at Erik ten Hag. The dressing room atmosphere can go poisonous when you've got too many players on too much money. It's not the manager's fault, it's those above him who buy the players that should be blamed.

“Man United are so used to winning things and now they're not doing that, everyone is looking to point the finger at someone else. I see their players blaming everybody else. 

“Their captain (Bruno Fernandes) normally moans at everybody, I found that pretty interesting. They gave it to an honest and hard-working guy who loves the club in Scott McTominay against Liverpool and the team worked hard for each other. 

“All I see is Fernandes throwing his arms up in the air like he's blaming someone else. Come on, put a shift in, Shut up and get on with it!

“During coverage of the Liverpool vs Man United game I saw Sky Sports ask McTominay what he thinks about the manager. How can that ever be? I used to work for Sky but what are you doing? You are stepping across boundaries there. You are way out of line! That's absolute nonsense! You should never pressure a player to say what he asks about his manager. 

'Are you behind the manager?' What a terrible question to ask. It should be, 'Are you behind the owners?' Because they are the ones trying to bail out, aren't they? It's mental. How can you blame Ten Hag?” 

What does the future hold for Ian Holloway? Are you keen on returning to management?

IH: “It (any potential job) will have to be at a certain level and the club would have to make contact with me. I want to be wanted. I know what I can do, I'm probably better than I have ever been after having a taste of League Two at Grimsby.

“Look at what happened there. We rose like a phoenix until the season got cancelled and we started the next one (season) with half a squad because of COVID. The owner had to sell the club because he couldn't afford to run it and I didn't want to stay there. Being so far away from my family was heartbreaking and having no supporters at games really took a toll on me. We're in the entertainment business and we weren't allowed to entertain!

“Since then, I almost took one or two different opportunities but nothing has happened and I'm waiting like Tom Hanks in Cast Away. I'll wait to see what the tide brings. My wife is my Wilson and I love talking to her every day. I'm learning art and painting portraits of people and I'm thoroughly enjoying that.

“Put it this way, though. If Sunderland rang me, I would have been very interested. If Stoke want me, I might be very interested. It's all about being wanted. I am a coach and take all the sessions but I also like to build relationships.

“My career went slightly wrong during my second stint at QPR, when I got sacked without knowing they were talking to another manager (Steve McClaren). How bad and wrong is that?

“I left Crystal Palace because a player was bought without me wanting him. I would need autonomy with any owner and a special relationship with them if we are to build something special in the long term. 

“I would have loved for that to have been Bristol Rovers but I didn't get a call. So, if anybody wants me, give me a call! I love football and I think I would be better than I ever have been as I've become more mature. 

“It would all depend on the club, the owners, and how they see my role. I would be open to a different role where I am mentoring somebody else and helping them do it. 

“Sadly, I have all this knowledge about leading people and nobody wants to use it. I'm only 60, probably as fit as I've ever been and more knowledgeable than I've ever been.”

Were you close to making a return to Bristol Rovers? 

IH: “To be honest, I nearly went in to work with Joey Barton (in an upstairs role). When they sacked him for whatever reason, I wasn't happy. At the end of the day, I'm a Rovers fan and I thought the way he was doing things and the squad he was building was right. I thought he and his staff got the club.

“Unfortunately, the club changed. The owner (Wael al-Qadi) sold a big percentage of it and they (the new ownership) saw things differently. I wanted to work with Joey and the job I was in discussions with Rovers over would have suited me down to the ground.

“It never happened and the new people came in. If they didn't, I would have probably been in a job and I think Joey would still have been. It's all about relationships. 

“I would have preferred the other role I was going to get (instead of management). I would have let Joey carry on being the manager and I would have overseen things and helped the club get to where I always wanted it to be in the first place.

“I don't want to talk about job titles because nothing happened. They wanted to speak to me for two-and-a-half years and absolutely nothing has happened! That's life. Crazy.” 

Joey Barton has made headlines in recent weeks, does he still have a future in football?

“If you want someone that is going to work hard for you and make a young lad believe in themselves, why can't that be Joey Barton?

“But he's also got to think about what he says and where he says it. What he says may have an impact. You shouldn't call other managers names like he did with Steve Evans, but I would say that to his face.

“I thought he did a great job at Bristol Rovers. I've met him and I like him. I like who he is. We can all change a little bit to better ourselves a little bit, and he might have to do so.

Joey and Wael (al-Qadi) got on really well. Joey and the new people didn't get on. I don't understand why and I wasn't allowed to come in. 

“But, at the end of the day, somebody should give him a chance and meet him. We all draw conclusions about people from what we hear in the media.”

What did you make of Matt Taylor’s appointment?

“The jury is out for me. I didn't want Joey to leave and while that may be a bit personal, because I was going to come in and work with him two days a week, the jury is out. 

“Good luck to Matt Taylor, and I would never wish anything bad on anyone, but he's not who I would have picked in one million years. 

“I would have picked myself. I don't think there's anyone better than me for that job. Maybe I'm sounding a little bit big-headed but I can't see how anybody could care more about Bristol Rovers than me. 

“It breaks my heart that I got Blackpool promoted and not Bristol Rovers.”

Knowing Wilfried Zaha, were you surprised to see him join Galatasaray?

IH: “It was a joy to manage Wilfried Zaha, he's such a wonderful guy off the field. He's a lovely, lovely boy, he's really fresh and honest. Crystal Palace embraced him. He made so many fans happy because he's a local boy who represents the area and the ethnic diversity within that area. 

“Everybody wanted a piece of Wilf and Palace are carrying that on now. They've got Eberechi Eze, who I was lucky enough to manage at QPR, and he's a fantastic player. They've got Michael Olise on the other side. Palace love those type of players. It was a shame (to see Zaha leave) but he's so ambitious. 

“If Sir Alex Ferguson stayed at Manchester United for one more year, he would have loved Wilf. It was Sir Alex that bought him and we would have seen another Ronaldo. For me, he was another Ronaldo. What he could do with the ball was out of this world. 

“I'm still very proud of my time at Palace and I know Wilf has been very complimentary about me. I managed to get to him and help him and he scored two goals (vs Brighton in the play-off semi-finals) to get us to Wembley after I helped him secure a move (to Man United). 

There was a terrible time at Palace when he (Zaha) was out of contract and his agent was trying to get him a big move. We were not winning and he wasn't concentrating, so I had to try and resurrect that. It's my proudest bit of management. 

“I managed to get Man United to buy him, then loan him back to us and he got us promoted by scoring two goals in the play-off semi-final and winning the penalty at Wembley in the play-off final. We lost Glenn Murray and Brighton thought they had already beaten us but Wilf popped up with a diving header and scored a fantastic second goal.

“I am very proud of that young man. I can understand why he went abroad because his target was the Champions League. There was a time when he may have gone to Arsenal and might have gone to Chelsea, but he chose to stay at Palace so well done to him.” 

Which Premier League team should try and sign him?

IH: “I think Arsenal suits him down to the ground. The way they play, the way they do things and dominate the ball. If you give it to Wilf just outside the box, he could create anything for you. 

“He's also such a fantastic athlete, so he wants to run and he wants to chase back. He's a bit like (Sergio) Aguero, who was taught how to track back alongside scoring. He's a bit like Mohammed Salah.

“Maybe Wilf wants to stay in London, but I could also see him going to Liverpool with the way the out-of-possession demands Jurgen Klopp puts on his players.” 

Who's the next big thing to come from the Championship?  

IH: There are, honestly, too many to pick from, I'm not being funny. What's great is the young coaches are picking the young players and working with them. You only have to give some of these players a couple of years (to improve). For me, just by playing regularly at whatever level, you will improve.

“Look at Jude Bellingham, he's stepped up everywhere he's gone and I haven't seen as good an English player as him in a long, long, time. Declan Rice, too. 

“I believe in the Championship. It's a huge part of our country and a huge part of why our pyramid is so good. Some of the bullshit you get comes from the Premier League with overspending. We've got to be careful because we're all going to be hanging onto Man City's coattails. 

“I think it's great that some of these players are playing week in and week out in the Championship and if they're good enough, they will get there (the Premier League).

I don't want to name any names. I've seen a couple at Bristol Rovers that could easily step up but I really don't want to say their names in case we lose them. For example, (Aaron) Collins is a fantastic footballer. 

“There are so many great players that are playing at a lower standard. To be honest, I'm not silly enough to tell anyone the players I like in case I get another job!”

Who's going to get promoted from the Championship?

IH: “I really want Ipswich to get promoted. I've always looked up to that club. When they had Sir Bobby Robson, the team he built absolutely mesmerised me. You had (Eric) Gates and Alan Brazil. Some of the football they played was of a European style, not an English one at the time.

“I would love to see Ipswich under Kieran Mckenna get promoted. I feel that their supporters would deserve it, too. I would love for them to experience the Premier League feeling because they have not had it for a long time. 

“I can see this current Leicester team getting back up and comfortably staying up. It was a fantastic decision to get someone in (Enzo Maresca) who knows what the best in the world (Pep Guardiola) is doing and he's made a fantastic impact. 

“They were very clever and only lost a couple of players. They kept everyone else and have added to the squad. They've stepped up. To do what they are doing and be so consistent in the Championship is no mean feat. Normally, you can go on a good run of four games and then suffer a few defeats but they've been so consistent. Well done to them.” 

Who do you think could go up via the play-offs?

IH: “I'm going to sit on the fence. At this time of year, it's almost impossible to predict who is going to hang on to their players because all the scouting networks will be looking at who is doing well in the Championship and trying to buy them. It depends on if the clubs can hang on to their best players and then add to their squads.

“Until that happens, I don't want to predict anything because I don't know who's going to be able to do what.  Look at Chelsea last summer, it was an absolute disaster. How much did they spend? They were just throwing the money around and teams could not hold onto their players. 

“Do I expect that to happen again, probably not. But what I do see is top-six teams like Aston Villa, Arsenal and Newcastle buying again. I can see Man United spending big again with the changes that might happen there. 

“Keep your eye on the window and from there, it's all down to the huge demands on players' fitness to see if they suffer any injuries and which team can gallop towards the end goal. 

“I don't live by it, I'm doing other things as well, but football is in my blood and I miss it. Now I realise how difficult it is to sit here and talk about how well a team is going to do when I don't see them working every day.”

What have you made of Wrexham's rise? What advice would you give Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney?

IH: “They need to keep doing what they are doing. Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds understand Wrexham and the local area, they've brought so much joy to the place. They've made it fun and have bought well.

“They looked at it and thought 'How much does this cost compared to other clubs?' And they're having a ball. They've got one of the best goalscorers in the EFL in Paul Mullin and well done to Phil Parkinson who's an absolute unsung hero. 

“What I like about what they are doing is that they are building slowly. They're growing the crowd and developing a future for the club. I would love the sort of atmosphere that they are creating. It's great to watch, they seem fun and knowledgeable. They are doing it for the right reasons. 

“They just need to realise you have never cracked it until you've achieved something in football. Because it can turn around and bite you on the backside when you think you have got everything right. 

“But they learned about that when Grimsby beat them in the play-offs to win promotion (in 2022). I'm glad that happened because it taught them to be patient. They didn't sack the manager despite not getting them up, they just let him get on with the job. 

“They seem like they know what they are doing, so well done. It's fantastic.” 

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