Former Grimsby Town manager Ian Holloway has held initial talks with Bristol Rovers over a return to the club for their vacant managerial position, according to Darren Witcoop.
The ex-Leicester City boss is reportedly among the contenders to take charge of the League One club following the sacking of Joey Barton. Holloway has been out of work since managing The Mariners in 2020, often appearing on media outlets as either a pundit or a presenter.
He has managed a host of clubs up and down the English football pyramid including Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Blackpool, Plymouth Argyle as well as Bristol Rovers at the beginning of his coaching career, having also played for the club over 200 times.
Bristol Rovers parted company with Joey Barton following a run of poor form which left the club sat in 16th in the table. The 41-year-old had been in charge since 2021 and gained promotion back to the third tier in 2022. They finished the season in 17th place last season.
Holloway is one name on a long list of potential candidates that also includes Dean Holden, Neil Harris, Garry Monk and Gareth Ainsworth with Andy Mangan also in the running after taking temporary charge of the club supported by Glenn Whelan, Danny Ventre and Anssi Jaakkolo.
They are in next in action at home to Whitby Town in the FA CUP on Saturday at 3pm at the Memorial Stadium.
Writer’s View
Holloway is box office, but hasn’t been in work for a few years now. His strong connections to the club both as a player and manager as well as being a Bristol native make him an easy name to throw into the mix and I should think he is interested in a return. However, is Ian Holloway what Rovers need right now? He is certainly a strong personality but I’m not sure he fits at the moment.