Ian Holloway has revealed that when he was told of their plans for the future, he was blown away by what was on offer at Millwall.
The 50-year-old stepped down from his position as Crystal Palace manager earlier this season, after leading them to promotion to the Premier League last term. Following a poor start to the current campaign, he was honest enough to admit the task at Selhurst Park was beyond him, so he felt it fair to give someone else a chance.
Holloway, who has also earned promotion to the top-flight with Blackpool in the past, was never likely to be out of work for long, and last week he accepted the job as Millwall boss. And he has explained that following a conversation with chairman John Berlyson about the plans for the future of the club, this was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“I was blown away when I met the chairman, I always knew it was a passionate club. I have never been so blown away in all my life, I was impressed that I was Plan A, Plan B and Plan C,” said Holloway, who has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Londoners.
Rather than be tasked with leading another promotion bid this season, the amiable Bristol-born coach has the responsibility of keeping the Lions in the Championship. They are currently just one place and one point above the relegation zone, but instead of looking to make wholesale changes to his squad whilst the window is open this month, he is confident in his existing options and will give his players the chance to impress.
“I can make some changes if I deem fit but I have to give the lads a chance to play for me,” he added. “The minimum I ask is that they give the maximum of their effort. If you can breathe correctly without blowing then you have let me down. We have a lot of senior pros and I want to see how they respond to me before I do anything rash and harsh.
“Hopefully I will be a good fit for Millwall and help them stay up this season and then we will try and push towards the top of the table next year. But it’s a tough ask and I’m in it for the long haul. I have guaranteed that even if it goes wrong I will stay.”