Ian Holloway: Millwall manager determined to succeed

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Holloway hopes to emulate Jackett

New Millwall manager Ian Holloway says he is determined to be more than a quick fix for the Championship club.

The former Crystal Palace boss, who replaces Steve Lomas, joins the Lions with them 21st in the table, one point above the relegation zone.

And Holloway said he was eager to bring success to The Den in the long term.

"Hopefully we will turn it round really quickly but if not people need to know I want to be Millwall manager for a very long time," he told BBC London.

Holloway, who has won promotion to the Premier League with both Blackpool and Palace, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal at The Den.

"It is a fantastic fit and I was more than happy to commit to what I feel is a fair deal," the 50-year-old continued.

"What's the point of me coming in and seeing if I like it? I'd be letting everybody down.

"The way they talked about what they want to achieve and how John [Berylson, Millwall chairman] feels about it, I was a lamb to the slaughter.

"The fella is so impressive it is unbelievable. I don't want to let him down.

"I want to be remembered for getting hold of clubs and trying to make them a little bit better. So far there was only one failure, which was Leicester.

"I take full responsibility for that, looking back. I went away for a year and re-jigged what I was doing. I felt I let a football club down and I don't want to do that again.

"I want to be brave and be a coach who develops players to pass and move.


Holloway consulted former Millwall manager Kenny Jackett before taking charge of the south London club.

Jackett, who was assistant to Holloway for three years when he was in charge at QPR, resigned as Lions boss in the summer after almost six years at the helm before joining Wolves.

"The main thing was 'why did you leave?' and I think that is a fair question," Holloway said.

"When you have been anywhere for a long time, like he had, and how it was going in that [final] season - they got to Wembley and had a relegation battle again - he felt responsible.

"He felt a change was needed for himself and the fans.

"Kenny couldn't have been more clear in how he thought I would get on with the owner and [chief executive] Andy Ambler. For me the working relationships in any football club are so important."

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