Ian Holloway: ‘ Wilsoooooon!’

He left Grimsby under a cloud in December, and isn’t afraid to admit some regrets. But despite four decades in a savage game, Fourfourtwo’s new columnist is finding divine footballing inspiration… from Tom Hanks?!

This month, it will be 40 years since Bristol Rovers gave me my first professional contract. I’ve barely been out of football since – my wife Kim and I have moved house 45 times in that time. Ludicrous, isn’t it?

It’s almost 25 years since Rovers gave me my first job in a dugout, too – although truth be told, I only got it because I cost them half the money as a player- manager. One salary for two jobs, and that proved a baptism of fire.

The game has changed a lot since then, but it hasn’t got any easier. I’m bitterly disappointed with how my spell at Grimsby ended. I went in with the biggest intentions to be there a long time and help the fine people in that area enjoy a better team. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. I’m not going to slaughter anyone else for it, though, and I take full responsibility – as a club has to go on after you. I was a custodian for a short while, it went well at the start, and then it didn’t. I thought it wouldn’t be right for them if I stayed. It’s a disappointment and always will be, but at some point down the line you dust yourself off and get going again. I hope they go on to better things without me.

Management is a funny game – you can have the best week ever and still lose. Ultimately, all you’re ever judged on are the results, but often there’s plenty more going on in the background.

I feel the boundaries of control have changed over the years more than anything – managing upwards is much harder, because there are lots of new roles. We used to be comfortable talking to agents and getting deals over the line, but now there might be three people above you doing that job. There are more layers than ever before for managers, and because it’s harder to get that relationship with those doing the hiring and firing, changes are made more readily when things get tough.

At QPR, for example, I had to re- evaluate what the club was spending, get some younger lads into the team and try to play in a way that the supporters would like.

It wasn’t easy. Luckily, I knew my director of football in Les Ferdinand, and we helped each other – because you’ve got to be on the same page. But I still got hurt there when they sacked me [ in May 2018]. I felt I’d done a brilliant job, but couldn’t help that one of the directors was talking to Steve Mcclaren behind my back. Apparently, Steve knew he had my job in December – I’d rather they had just given it to him then. Sadly, that’s how it was.

I don’t like the word ‘ pressure’, though. When your life or someone else’s is threatened, that’s pressure. We’re in the entertainment business, but it means the world to people. Someone in your family introduces you to this wonderful game, then it’s ingrained and you can’t get away from it. We’re almost brainwashed as youngsters – we get hooked and it’s fantastic, because football is the last tribal thing there is. Coronavirus has stopped us from socialising with one another, and that’s not good because we all need to feel part of something.

I’m 58 now, but still learning. One of the things I’ve really, truly begun to understand during this pandemic is what it means to be a football fan. I don’t want to see the matchday lose its magic. As a manager, you’re in hotels or on coaches. That’s your matchday. For fans, it’s all about the going – the Last year, I went to Anfield with a friend and it was amazing – I’d not experienced it as a fan in my life. Turning up at the stage door being ready to perform is different to going to the theatre. Now I know what the fans really miss, I don’t ever want that to die. Sure, you can sit at home and watch it on TV, but I hope people don’t forget what they need out of football.

As for me, I’m excited about what’s next. I’ve just done two events on video call with schools, and the enthusiasm I got from the students was unbelievable; they were all so hungry, and I really loved it. Now, I want to use my life skills in football – from when it went right, when it went wrong – and share them with others.

Right now, I feel like Tom Hanks in He had his volleyball, Wilson, didn’t he? I’m just waiting to see what the tide brings.

“ONE OF THE THINGS I’VE BEGUN TO UNDERSTAND DURING THE PANDEMIC IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FAN. THE MATCHDAY CAN’T LOSE ITS MAGIC”

“I GOT GAME OF THRONES MONOPOLY FOR THRONES AND WAS OVER THE MOON!”