Ian Holloway said losing the Crystal Palace dressing room was a
key motive behind the decision to end his 11 months as manager of the
club.
The 50-year-old’s departure, officially by mutual consent, was confirmed following 48 hours of talks with co-chairman Steve Parish following Palace’s 4-1 defeat by Fulham on Monday.
Sportsmail revealed how Parish was on the brink of parting with Holloway amid fears the Palace players were no longer responding to their manager and, speaking at the Soho Hotel in the West End of London last night, a forthright Holloway admitted as much.
Lost the dressing room: Ian Holloway admitted he couldn't get new players to buy into his cause
He
said: ‘With the changes in the squad, I have to hold my hand up and say
we didn’t keep the spirit that got us up, we lost some very important
parts of it.
I think we have tried to change too quickly. Some of the new lads, their attitude, I’m finding it slightly annoying and that ain’t right.
‘I didn’t value enough the spirit of the group [that got us up]. We changed to give us a chance to stay up but lost the spirit of the group.
‘We’ve got worse in that vein rather than better, and I owe it to the lads to admit that.
The end: Ian Holloway (left) and Crystal Palace Co-Chairman Steve Parish attend a press conference to announce their parting by mutual consent
‘Sometimes we needed to shut up shop and defend a bit better —when I
talked about that with the group, it unsettled them because they were so
good at doing different things.
‘I’m not saying the players are not good enough but they need to buy into this club like the last lot.So I think someone fresh coming in right now with more experience at this level [would help].
‘I’m not bitter, I will never be bitter. I’m privileged to have worked for Palace.
‘I want the players to understand that with me out of the way, this will stop and a new man has a chance to start again.
Writing on the wall: Palace's 4-1 home defeat by Fulham was Holloway's last game in charge
‘Not much needs changing but I can’t change who I am because the lads won’t believe in that.
‘If I kept taking Steve’s money, that’s not right. I want to do a job I feel is right for the club .
‘They have got 30 games left and I understand how wonderful it is for Palace to enjoy those games and not have all this circus flowing around us.’
Such developments followed intense speculation about Holloway’s future. Sportsmail understands Holloway offered his resignation soon after his side’s capitulation to Fulham on Monday.
After two rounds of discussions following the loss, Holloway agreed to hold another meeting with Parish and other senior Palace officials on Tuesday.
Parish insisted he tried to convince the former Blackpool boss he still had a future at Selhurst Park but it seemed Holloway’s mind was made up and, when the players were told to take a second consecutive day off yesterday, they knew the writing was on the wall.
Contrast: Holloway lifts the Championship play-off final trophy after beating Watford at Wembley
The players were unaware of Holloway’s attempts to leave the club on
Monday and many were shocked by his departure yesterday, feeling he
would be in charge for Saturday’s clash against Arsenal. Others,
however, were less surprised — feeling the club had to make a change,
having privately questioned Holloway’s training methods.
Holloway, though, claims there should be no question marks over his work ethic, insisting his time in south London had left him ‘exhausted’.
‘I’m very tired as well,’ he said. ‘Part of the conversation I had with Steve was “have I got the energy left?”.
‘I couldn’t have worked harder, I’m tired and I’m going to have a rest. I had five days off this summer, five days when I didn’t ring Steve through the day.
‘I’m exhausted, to be honest. It’s about energy and I feel pretty tired.’
Holloway will take his time before deciding whether or not to venture back into football management, but the former Queens Park Rangers midfielder insists he holds no ill-feeling towards Parish and the club’s other senior executives following his exit.
‘I called this meeting to show solidarity,’ he said. ‘We’ve had good grown-up discussion, Steve and me. We both still care about Palace. Am I happy to walk away? Yes.
If the cap fits: Tony Pulis' name has already been mentioned in relation to the vacant post and he is the bookies' favourite
‘I hold myself and Steve both responsible. They know how hard I’ve worked and didn’t want me to do this.
‘If they can use some of the money to get a manager they couldn’t afford when they chose me, that might make the difference.
‘And, if it happens, nobody will jump higher than me. It’s a special place. I didn’t understand that before.’
The 50-year-old’s departure, officially by mutual consent, was confirmed following 48 hours of talks with co-chairman Steve Parish following Palace’s 4-1 defeat by Fulham on Monday.
Sportsmail revealed how Parish was on the brink of parting with Holloway amid fears the Palace players were no longer responding to their manager and, speaking at the Soho Hotel in the West End of London last night, a forthright Holloway admitted as much.
Lost the dressing room: Ian Holloway admitted he couldn't get new players to buy into his cause
He
said: ‘With the changes in the squad, I have to hold my hand up and say
we didn’t keep the spirit that got us up, we lost some very important
parts of it.I think we have tried to change too quickly. Some of the new lads, their attitude, I’m finding it slightly annoying and that ain’t right.
‘I didn’t value enough the spirit of the group [that got us up]. We changed to give us a chance to stay up but lost the spirit of the group.
‘We’ve got worse in that vein rather than better, and I owe it to the lads to admit that.
The end: Ian Holloway (left) and Crystal Palace Co-Chairman Steve Parish attend a press conference to announce their parting by mutual consent
‘I’m not saying the players are not good enough but they need to buy into this club like the last lot.So I think someone fresh coming in right now with more experience at this level [would help].
‘I’m not bitter, I will never be bitter. I’m privileged to have worked for Palace.
‘I want the players to understand that with me out of the way, this will stop and a new man has a chance to start again.
Writing on the wall: Palace's 4-1 home defeat by Fulham was Holloway's last game in charge
‘If I kept taking Steve’s money, that’s not right. I want to do a job I feel is right for the club .
‘They have got 30 games left and I understand how wonderful it is for Palace to enjoy those games and not have all this circus flowing around us.’
Such developments followed intense speculation about Holloway’s future. Sportsmail understands Holloway offered his resignation soon after his side’s capitulation to Fulham on Monday.
After two rounds of discussions following the loss, Holloway agreed to hold another meeting with Parish and other senior Palace officials on Tuesday.
Parish insisted he tried to convince the former Blackpool boss he still had a future at Selhurst Park but it seemed Holloway’s mind was made up and, when the players were told to take a second consecutive day off yesterday, they knew the writing was on the wall.
Contrast: Holloway lifts the Championship play-off final trophy after beating Watford at Wembley
Holloway, though, claims there should be no question marks over his work ethic, insisting his time in south London had left him ‘exhausted’.
‘I’m very tired as well,’ he said. ‘Part of the conversation I had with Steve was “have I got the energy left?”.
‘I couldn’t have worked harder, I’m tired and I’m going to have a rest. I had five days off this summer, five days when I didn’t ring Steve through the day.
‘I’m exhausted, to be honest. It’s about energy and I feel pretty tired.’
Holloway will take his time before deciding whether or not to venture back into football management, but the former Queens Park Rangers midfielder insists he holds no ill-feeling towards Parish and the club’s other senior executives following his exit.
‘I called this meeting to show solidarity,’ he said. ‘We’ve had good grown-up discussion, Steve and me. We both still care about Palace. Am I happy to walk away? Yes.
If the cap fits: Tony Pulis' name has already been mentioned in relation to the vacant post and he is the bookies' favourite
‘If they can use some of the money to get a manager they couldn’t afford when they chose me, that might make the difference.
‘And, if it happens, nobody will jump higher than me. It’s a special place. I didn’t understand that before.’
