BLACKBURN Rovers are mulling over making an audacious approach for Blackpool boss Ian Holloway – but the Seasiders would fight tooth and nail to keep their man at Bloom-field Road.
As the prospect of luring Shebby Singh’s favoured can-didate Tim Sherwood to Ewood Park continues to look unlikely, with Spurs desperate to keep him on their coaching staff, Holloway has emerged on the radar as a potential alternative.
The Bristolian and Sherwood are understood to be only two of a number of names on Rovers’ shortlist, but the former is believed to be the preferred choice of sections of the club’s hierarchy.
Holloway is not the unan-imous favourite though within the club as exploratory moves are still being made in an attempt to narrow down the short list, with the interviewing stage still yet to start.
Rovers have yet to make any other official approaches to clubs since an initial move to talk to Sherwood was knocked back by Spurs two weeks ago, with it looking increasingly likely caretaker boss Eric Black will be at the helm for Saturday’s trip to Derby County.
Going after Holloway would prove a popular move among sections of the Ewood Park faithful, with the Blackpool boss topping the Lancashire Telegraph’s readers poll with 20 per cent of the vote almost a fortnight ago.
But Seasiders chairman Karl Oyston will be determined to hang on to the man who transformed his club’s fortunes on a shoestring budget and sources close to him believe he would deny Rovers permission to speak to Holloway – if an approach was to be made.
Holloway is on a 12-month rolling contract and is treated as Blackpool's 'crown jewels' and it is understood he would have to attempt to force a move for it to happen.
The 49-year-old was linked with the job when Sam Allardyce was sacked at the start of Venky's reign and he quickly dismissed it as he also hit out at Rovers' poultry giant owners.
He said in December 2010: “I know I've got a few chickens but it is ridiculous to link me with that. It is absolute rubbish.”
“It seems an absolute load of nonsense (Allardyce's sacking), but they own the club, they can do what they like and they have obviously done it,'' Holloway said.
"For me, they obviously don't know what football is about because a good manager like that with a great track record, and where they are in the league, it is not easy. Not everyone can do it and I hope it doesn't backfire on them.
"Sam has a proven track record of how he does things. Good luck to them, that's all I'd like to say. None of it makes sense, but maybe football doesn't.''
Holloway has grown increasingly frustrated at a lack of funds available at Blackpool though and, despite buying a new property on the Fylde Coast , is believed to be ready to move on if the right job is made available.
I'm realistic about where we are, but I want to keep moving forward,' he said. 'I'm even more determined to be a success.
'There's something special about this club, it seems to just fit me perfectly.
'I'll keep going, I believe in what we are doing, and we won't stop working hard. If we keep doing that, who knows where we'll end up."
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