Premier League fine Blackpool £25,000 after fielding weakened side against Aston Villa

27 January 2011 23:18
Ian Holloway's future as Blackpool manager was thrown into doubt after the club were fined £25,000 for fielding a weakened team.[LNB]Holloway had threatened to make it a resigning issue but his chairman Karl Oyston, fearing the worst, said: 'I'll do everything in my power to make sure Ian stays.' [LNB] Fined: Blackpool have been hit with a £25,000 charge for fielding a weakened side against Aston Villa in November[LNB] Oyston's plea came after the Premier League punished Blackpool for resting 10 of their first choice XI in a 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa in November to keep them fresh for a game at West Ham three days later, which was drawn.[LNB]Holloway said he would walk out if his club were fined, a sentiment he reiterated after Sportsmail revealed the Premier League were investigating his team selection.[LNB]'I've got every right to do what I like,' said Holloway in November. 'I'm not having anyone tell me who I can play. My chairman doesn't tell me so why should the Premier League? Who the hell are they to tell me my players are not good enough?'[LNB]The Premier League spent the next two months studying his team selections to see how regularly the players who started at Villa Park featured.[LNB]The most damning evidence came when Holloway picked seven of those who started against Villa for the FA Cup third-round tie against Southampton and then claimed the 2-0 defeat against the League One team was down to a depleted team.[LNB] Will he walk: Ian Holloway threatened to resign in November if the Premier League imposed a sanction on the club[LNB]'Obviously, I didn't bring the team that has been playing in the Premier League for the rest of the season due to the size of my squad,' he said.[LNB]It has been a controversial week for Holloway, after his confession that he stands to make money if captain Charlie Adam is sold at a profit. The manager was unavailable for comment last night, taking the chance of a brief holiday because Blackpool have the FA Cup weekend free.[LNB]Oyston added: 'I don't think we should have been fined and we will possibly appeal against it. It is a squad game now. As a Premier League rule we have to nominate 25 players ahead of the season and that is what we have done.[LNB]'It wasn't that we put players out who weren't competitive. We lost the game 3-2, quite narrowly. If the Premier League think those players aren't good enough to appear on our behalf then maybe they should pick our team for us.'[LNB]Blackpool have 14 days to appeal.[LNB] Changing rooms: Blackpool fielded a different side just days after their defeat at Villa Park against West Ham[LNB] Holloway signs Moroccan Sbai and looks set to raid former club Plymouth for BhaseraI'm not bluffing! Fed-up Holloway still on the brink of quitting BlackpoolCollision course: Ollie heading for trouble over Blackpool changesAlll the latest Blackpool news, features and opinion [LNB]  Explore more:People: Ian Holloway Places: Liverpool

Source: Daily_Mail