Ian Holloway makes dramatic return to football at EFL club after four-year hiatus
Swindon have appointed Ian Holloway as manager just hours after sacking Mark Kennedy. The former Blackpool and Millwall boss hasn’t managed a club since 2020, with his last job being with Grimsby Town. Holloway is backGetty Images - Getty He’s replacing KennedyGETTY At the time, Holloway stated he was unsure whether he would return to football management again, saying his appetite for football had diminished. He applied for the Motherwell job in February 2023, but the Scottish outfit opted for Stuart Kettlewell instead. Now though, he’s back in the English game. Announcing Holloway’s appointment on Monday, just hours after Kennedy’s sacking, the club said: “Swindon Town Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Ian Holloway as First Team Manager on a deal until the end of the 2024/25 season. “With over 600 appearances as a player and taking charge of almost 1,000 professional games over a 20 plus year managerial career, Holloway will bring invaluable experience with him to SN1. “During his time as a manager, he has secured promotions on three occasions, including promotion to the Premier League with Crystal Palace and Blackpool, as well as promotion with QPR in the Football League Second Division in 2003-04.” This is Holloway’s 10th managerial appointment. He said: “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 won promotion within the EFLgetty Former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool winger Kennedy had only been at the club since May, but was dismissed on Friday morning with the Robins sitting in the relegation zone in League Two. Swindon lost 2-1 to Salford City on Tuesday, leaving them third from bottom of the fourth tier after just two league wins in 13. The decision to sack ex-Ireland international Kennedy comes just one day before the League Two clash with Gillingham, but Holloway will now be in the driving seat to try to get their season back on track. On Friday, the club released a statement that read: “Swindon Town Football Club have parted company with head coach Mark Kennedy. “Marcus Bignot, Steve Mildenhall and Gavin Gunning will continue in their current positions, with all three first-team coaches in place to oversee this weekend’s game against Gillingham. “Everyone at Swindon Town Football Club would like to express their appreciation to Mark for his commitment and hard work during his time with the Club and wish him all the best in the future. “A further update on the club’s new head coach will be provided at the earliest opportunity.” Following his retirement from football, Kennedy began his coaching career in 2012 with Ipswich Town. He left for his former club Manchester City in 2016, and also spent time in Wolves’ academy. His first management role in men’s football was with Macclesfield, with him taking charge in January 2020. However he left the club that August after rejecting a new contract following the club’s relegation to the National League as a result of a points deduction for financial issues. Only Morecambe and Carlisle are keeping Swindon off the foot of the tableGETTY He served as Lee Bowyer’s assistant at Birmingham City but departed to become Lincoln City boss in 2022. Kennedy oversaw an 11th place finish that season but was sacked the following October. He had joined Swindon on a two-year contract as a permanent replacement for former Robins boss Michael Flynn. Holloway is the fourth permanent manager since Scott Lindsey’s departure in January 2023. Swindon were in League One as recently as 2021, and were relegated second from bottom of the league. Now, the Robins have sprung into action to try to stop themselves from dropping out of the Football League. Speaking after what proved to be his final game in charge at Salford, 48-year-old Kennedy said: “We had good moments in the game but unfortunately we found a way to lose the game and the decision-making just leaves me scratching my head a little. “In this season, in the games we have lost I don’t feel like, with the exception of Walsall, I don’t think anyone has come and beat us. “In the games we have lost, I think Darren [Moore] from Port Vale, Grant
Swindon have appointed Ian Holloway as manager just hours after sacking Mark Kennedy.
The former Blackpool and Millwall boss hasn’t managed a club since 2020, with his last job being with Grimsby Town.
At the time, Holloway stated he was unsure whether he would return to football management again, saying his appetite for football had diminished.
He applied for the Motherwell job in February 2023, but the Scottish outfit opted for Stuart Kettlewell instead.
Now though, he’s back in the English game.
Announcing Holloway’s appointment on Monday, just hours after Kennedy’s sacking, the club said: “Swindon Town Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Ian Holloway as First Team Manager on a deal until the end of the 2024/25 season.
“With over 600 appearances as a player and taking charge of almost 1,000 professional games over a 20 plus year managerial career, Holloway will bring invaluable experience with him to SN1.
“During his time as a manager, he has secured promotions on three occasions, including promotion to the Premier League with Crystal Palace and Blackpool, as well as promotion with QPR in the Football League Second Division in 2003-04.”
This is Holloway’s 10th managerial appointment.
He said: “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.”
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool winger Kennedy had only been at the club since May, but was dismissed on Friday morning with the Robins sitting in the relegation zone in League Two.
Swindon lost 2-1 to Salford City on Tuesday, leaving them third from bottom of the fourth tier after just two league wins in 13.
The decision to sack ex-Ireland international Kennedy comes just one day before the League Two clash with Gillingham, but Holloway will now be in the driving seat to try to get their season back on track.
On Friday, the club released a statement that read: “Swindon Town Football Club have parted company with head coach Mark Kennedy.
“Marcus Bignot, Steve Mildenhall and Gavin Gunning will continue in their current positions, with all three first-team coaches in place to oversee this weekend’s game against Gillingham.
“Everyone at Swindon Town Football Club would like to express their appreciation to Mark for his commitment and hard work during his time with the Club and wish him all the best in the future.
“A further update on the club’s new head coach will be provided at the earliest opportunity.”
Following his retirement from football, Kennedy began his coaching career in 2012 with Ipswich Town.
He left for his former club Manchester City in 2016, and also spent time in Wolves’ academy.
His first management role in men’s football was with Macclesfield, with him taking charge in January 2020.
However he left the club that August after rejecting a new contract following the club’s relegation to the National League as a result of a points deduction for financial issues.
He served as Lee Bowyer’s assistant at Birmingham City but departed to become Lincoln City boss in 2022.
Kennedy oversaw an 11th place finish that season but was sacked the following October.
He had joined Swindon on a two-year contract as a permanent replacement for former Robins boss Michael Flynn.
Holloway is the fourth permanent manager since Scott Lindsey’s departure in January 2023.
Swindon were in League One as recently as 2021, and were relegated second from bottom of the league.
Now, the Robins have sprung into action to try to stop themselves from dropping out of the Football League.
Speaking after what proved to be his final game in charge at Salford, 48-year-old Kennedy said: “We had good moments in the game but unfortunately we found a way to lose the game and the decision-making just leaves me scratching my head a little.
“In this season, in the games we have lost I don’t feel like, with the exception of Walsall, I don’t think anyone has come and beat us.
“In the games we have lost, I think Darren [Moore] from Port Vale, Grant [McCann] from Doncaster and Karl Robinson tonight, when I think what they will think I keep coming up with the same answer, ‘they were lucky to beat us, they didn’t half help us’.
“That is something we need to change quickly. I am really proud to work for the club, whether I am here tomorrow or for 10 years, it is a brilliant club.
“My conversations are with someone who is really passionate about his club and it has been nothing but supportive.
“Worrying about tomorrow ruins today and I can only control the controllables, so most of this is a completely hypothetical question.”
