Holloway relishing Seasiders challenge

29 December 2010 15:30
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway will head into 2011 determined to carry on enjoying himself. The promoted Seasiders have defied all pre-season predictions to more than make a good fist of life in the Barclays Premier League, and will end 2010 comfortably in the top half of the table with 25 points already banked following Tuesday's 2-0 win at Sunderland. That has given them the firmest of foundations upon which to build, and while it has come as no surprise at all to Holloway, he is full of admiration for his players. He said: "I can't tell you how proud I am of them, and I can't tell you how protective I am of them. It's nice for Blackpool to get recognition, it's nice for people to say nice things about me, but it isn't about that, I am not doing it for that. "I am doing it to try to help them improve in their careers, and I can't ask for anymore from any of them. That's what makes me proud because you have to decide when you are out of work, 'Why am I doing it?', and I was doing it for the wrong reasons. "I am now doing it for total enjoyment, to try to help my lads play better than they have ever played in their lives and encourage them because I needed that when I couldn't get a job."

Source: PA