"A bit bizarre" - EFL pundit comments on situation involving Swindon Town and Ian Holloway | OneFootball

Ian Holloway was appointed as Swindon Town manager earlier this week

Sam Parkin has branded Ian Holloway’s appointment at Swindon Town as a bizarre but unsurprising move for the club.

The 61-year-old has returned to management with the struggling League Two outfit, taking on his first role since departing Grimsby Town in December 2020.

While he has plenty of experience working in English football, an almost four-year-long hiatus from the game has led to some surprise at his return.

Holloway revealed in his first interview with the club that he only signed an agent just 24 hours before taking over the Robins.

He will now be looking to keep the club in the Football League, with Swindon in danger of relegation from the fourth tier.

Sam Parkin issues Ian Holloway verdict

Parkin has claimed that Holloway’s agent comments were a bit bizarre, but believes he can have a galvanising effect on the club and its supporters.

While he has some scepticism over the experienced manager due to his disastrous spell at Grimsby, which lasted just 38 games, he is sure that Holloway can motivate this struggling team.

“I don’t think you can ever be stunned by a managerial appointment at Swindon over the last decade, or probably longer,” said Parkin, via the What The EFL?! Podcast.

“It’s been John Sheridan, it’s been Phil Brown, it’s been David Flitcroft, Richie Wellens was a particularly fruitful period, which I hold very dearly to my heart given the mayhem that has surrounded that club.

“So, no, not overly surprised [by Holloway’s appointment].

“When I heard Ollie's interview that he’d only appointed an agent 24 hours preceding him getting the call, [it’s] a bit bizarre.

“I presume the agent’s been spoken to and said ‘I’ve just signed Ollie on the dotted line, do you fancy him?’

“He’s from down the road, isn’t he? He will galvanise the fans to a degree.

“The players need a little bit of energy injected, and the place is under a dark cloud at the moment and that is due to the ongoing battles with the ownership.

“Just people not having full trust and full support in everything that’s going on above pitch-level.

“Ollie will bring his character, and I’m sure the players will enjoy it.

“All the lads that I played with, there is no one better to motivate a group of 11 lads going out there to battle, he’s one of the best at that.

“But you have to think back to Grimsby just a few years ago, where it went horribly wrong very quickly.

“Ollie doesn’t really know the level, I would suggest, anymore and that was problematic when he went into Grimsby.

“It’s a big job that he’s taking on, because there’s a real concern about Swindon dropping out of the Football League, that’s how it stands at the moment.

“They’ve been plummeting. Last year was a horrendous finish for a club that’s got ambitions if they can get things right off the pitch.

“So it’s a mess currently.”

Ian Holloway’s managerial experience

Holloway has been working in football management since 1996, and has worked across all four of England’s top divisions.

He famously guided Blackpool and Crystal Palace to Premier League promotions in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

The 61-year-old has also worked at clubs like QPR, Leicester City, Millwall and, most recently, Grimsby.

Holloway takes over Swindon with the team sitting 22nd in the League Two table, only four points clear of the relegation zone.

Holloway appointment is risky

Bringing Holloway into the situation at Swindon is quite a risk, but it’s hardly a surprise given everything that’s happened behind the scenes at the club.

While he was once a great manager in English football, it’s difficult to be inspired by his arrival given his more recent track record and struggles to get to grips with League Two in the past.

Swindon are in real danger of relegation to the National League, so they will need this appointment to work out well.