Ian Holloway: Crystal Palace boss departs Premier League strugglers
Last updated on .From the section Crystal Palace
Ian Holloway has left his position as manager of Crystal Palace by mutual consent after less than a year in charge at Selhurst Park.
Holloway, 50, guided Palace to the Premier League via the play-offs last season after joining in November, but had won only one league game this term.
A 4-1 defeat by Fulham on Monday left the club five points adrift of safety.
"Ian felt that a new approach might help keep us in the division," chairman Steve Parish said.
"It's a completely different challenge for Ian and a completely different challenge for us at the club.
"Ian's been very noble and he's come forward and said: 'I can't do it.' I've spent three days trying to get Ian in the frame of mind that he can do it."
Assistant manager Keith Millen will take temporary charge for the game against Arsenal on Saturday.
Although the club lost star player Wilfried Zaha to Manchester United, Holloway was allowed to bring in 16 players during the summer.
"I have pride in the job we've both done," Holloway said.
"We need to shut up shop in this division. At the minute we've got a whole new group there.
"I have to hold my hand up and say we didn't keep the spirit that got us up.
"We changed too much too quickly."
He added: "This club needs an impetus of energy - but I just feel tired to be honest. I'm worn out."
Palace won 3-1 against fellow strugglers Sunderland on 31 August, but they have lost their seven other league games this season.
Palace are 19th in the Premier League table and speculation had surrounded Holloway's position following a meeting with Parish after the Fulham defeat, despite the chairman telling BBC Radio 5 Live before the game his job was secure.
Parish said he would consult Holloway when it came to appointing a new manager and that the club needed someone with more top-flight experience.
"We've got a whole group of people who are only really used to the Championship and dropped them into the Premier League," added Parish.
"I think we both realised we need someone with more experience at this level."
Holloway ended a three-year spell at Blackpool - who he guided to promotion to the Premier League in 2010 before being relegated back to the Championship the following season - to join the Eagles, succeeding Dougie Freedman.
Palace were fourth in the Championship table when Holloway arrived, but held onto a play-off place thanks to an 89th-minute winner from Mile Jedinak in the final game of the season against Peterborough.
After beating Brighton in the play-off semi-finals, an extra-time Kevin Phillips penalty secured promotion against Watford at Wembley.
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Refreshing to hear honesty from a manager who didn't feel up to it despite support from the players, board, and many supporters.
Whilst I agree with the sentiment about hiring and firing I don't see the relavence here.
Accountabilty is a rare thing in today's world
A lesson in the value of squad evolution not revolution?
"Clubs that hire and fire managers every five minutes win nothing and deserve to win nothing.
Three words: Sir Alex Ferguson."
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One word: Chelsea
He had his heart set on at least three seasons in the premiership -
Autumn, Winter and Spring..
Anyway, Freedman took Palace to the top of the Championship and left, Holloway almost ended up outside the play-offs, then spent 8.5mil on a player that had a decent 6 months at Peterborough and expected him to be a world beater, no great loss for Palace.
I will miss his comedy side though but we do still have Jose.......
palace should've kept holloway, he's a very good championship manager.
[snigger]
For all Eagle's current predicament, Ian worked hard to get Palace up. No one else would have got Palace up last year.
kthnxbai
And the even more deplorable
FIRST
And here was me thinking these comment sections couldn't get anymore dumbed down.
Can't they stay on 4chan ?
Sad to hear the news but not unexpected. Would have preferred him to stay the season, but sadly he felt he couldn't get the players to perform to the level that was necessary.
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I Salute the man for knowing when to give in and let someone else have a go - not hanging on looking for payoff. Will miss him on MOTD, as at least he was honest about how a game went. He'll be back somewhere within a year, and doubtless pushing for promotion. A zany gent - good luck to him!