I will not leave Blackpool in the lurch, says Holloway

Blackpool's Ian Holloway stressed his commitment to an 'amazing club' (GETTY IMAGES)

Ian Holloway insists he has no intention of walking out on Blackpool to manage another club. The Seasiders have been on a remarkable journey under Holloway, winning promotion to the Premier League for the first time last May and then doing enough this season to be above the relegation zone with three games left to play, albeit on goal difference alone.

It has earned the 48-year-old many admirers and reports have suggested he could be a potential summer target for West Ham United. Holloway has vowed never to repeat the mistake he made in leaving Plymouth Argyle in 2007 for an ill-fated spell at Leicester City, though, and today declared his commitment to Blackpool.

"I had a contract at Plymouth, I walked out on it and I will never do that again," Holloway said. "I've got a contract here for this year and next year and I'm delighted and very proud to be a very small part of a magnificent football club.

"I saw it again the other evening, the statue we have outside now of Jimmy Armfield – this is an amazing club with an amazing history, and I like to feel that I have added to that."

Holloway insists his future at Bloomfield Road will be determined by the Blackpool chairman, Karl Oyston. "I've got a great relationship with my chairman, who will choose when I'm not here anymore," Holloway said. "I wouldn't have signed my contract for the length that I did if I wasn't totally intent on seeing it through."

Asked what would happen if he were to be headhunted by another club, Holloway said: "It would be nothing to do with me – my chairman would have to say 'these people want you, I don't want you anymore and you can go.'

"Football isn't how it used to be, but this football club is and that is what I love about it."