Ex-QPR Manager Ian Holloway Talking About Various Matters - Including QPR

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OLLIE IN JOB MARKET - By Ross Heppenstall, PA Sport

Ian Holloway is itching for a return to football management after being sacked for taking Leicester into Coca-Cola League One last season.

Holloway, 45, gambled his career by controversially walking out on Plymouth for the Walkers Stadium last November.

It proved a disastrous move as the Foxes slid into the third tier of English football for the first time in their history.

Holloway was shown the door by Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric in May and left on the managerial scrapheap with his reputation in tatters.

On the eve of the new Coca-Cola League season, he said: "I'm still devastated by what happened at Leicester and the fact I'm no longer there.

"But I want to get back in the game as soon as possible. This is the first time in 30 years I've not had a pre-season as a player or as a manager.

"But I'm waiting for someone else to fail aren't I?

"That's the nature of football management and in the meantime I'm left to re-educate myself.

"I'm looking to exploit as many media opportunities as possible and am taking my A Licence qualification.

"I'm going to watch as many games as possible and hopefully the call will come."

Holloway, meanwhile, is backing new Leicester manager Nigel Pearson to guide the club back into the Championship at the first attempt.

"I just wish Nigel well," said the charismatic Bristolian.

"You have got two great big sides in League One this season in Leicester and Leeds.

"Hopefully he will develop a strong relationship with the chairman and the players should certainly find it easier than in the Championship.

"Leicester are down at the moment but I look at one of the greatest stories in footballing history.

"When Bill Shankly took over at Liverpool they were a second division side in the doldrums.

"People said he was crazy when he said they were going to win promotion and be champions of Europe.

"But it happened and that's the beauty of football.

"It's like a warzone and everyone needs to be pulling together in the trenches - and that's what I'd say to Leicester."

Holloway acknowledged Iain Dowie will be under severe pressure to perform at his former club QPR this season.

The combined wealth of co-owners Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal makes Rangers arguably the richest club in world football and bookmakers have installed Dowie's side as favourites to win promotion this coming season.

Holloway added: "If you back a manager then as an owner you are entitled to expect a return on your investment.

"But there needs to be realism as well.

"QPR is another fantastic club - I had five years as a player and five as manager - and I'd love to see them back in the Premier League."

# Holloway was speaking at the launch of his book 'The Little Book of Ollie'isms', which contains many of the irreverent quotations for which he has become known. Sporting Life