Ian Holloway lands first manager job in football in four years as he is named boss of EFL club

IAN HOLLOWAY has been appointed manager of EFL side Swindon Town.

The League Two strugglers parted company with Mark Kennedy following their underwhelming start to the season.

PA

Ian Holloway has been appointed Swindon manager[/caption]

They have wasted little time in appointing his successor with Holloway confirmed just hours after his sacking.

Holloway, 61, has signed a deal until the end of the season.

He said on joining The Robins: “I’m delighted to be back working in football after a period out of the game as I wanted to get back into it if the right opportunity arose which, with this opportunity, I feel is the perfect fit for me.

“Conversations happened very quickly and both sides were very keen to get the deal done and of course, I was delighted to engage with a club like Swindon Town, a club of whom I know a lot about due to my location and knowledge of the local area.

“I want to be able to bring everyone together to deliver success and positivity on and off the pitch and I’m delighted to be at The Nigel Eady County Ground tomorrow to meet you all for the first time as Swindon Town Manager and I look forward to a successful time working together.”

Holloway has not managed since he was sacked by Grimsby four years ago after winning just 11 out of 38 games in charge.

He is just 11 games away from 1000 matches managed in a managerial career that has seen him win promotion three times.

Holloway’s first taste of success came at QPR when he won promotion to the Championship in 2004.

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He then twice one promotion to the Premier League, first with Blackpool in 2010 and again three years later with Crystal Palace – both of which came via the play-offs.

Swindon will hope Holloway can add a bit of inspiration immediately as they have just two wins from 13 games and sit three points above the relegation zone.