In a surprising turn of events, former Blackpool and QPR manager Ian Holloway has officially returned to football as the new manager of Swindon Town. With a rich history in the sport spanning 24 years and eight different clubs, Holloway had been out of work since resigning from Grimsby in December 2020. Many believed he had stepped away from management for good after leading Blackpool to the Premier League in 2010.

Now, he takes the helm at Swindon, following the dismissal of Mark Kennedy due to a disappointing start to the season. Currently, Swindon finds itself just one spot above the League Two relegation zone, having secured only two wins from 13 matches since Kennedy’s appointment in May.

“I’m thrilled to be back in football after taking some time away from the game. I was eager to return when the right opportunity arose, and I truly believe this is a perfect fit for me,” Holloway said. He has signed on until the end of the season and emphasized the swift nature of the discussions leading to his appointment. “Both sides were eager to get this deal done, and I couldn’t be happier to be involved with a club like Swindon Town, a team I know well given my connections to the area.”

Looking ahead, Holloway will be in attendance at the County Ground on Saturday for the match against Gillingham, although he will not manage the team this week. He expressed his intentions: “I want to unite everyone to achieve success and positivity both on and off the pitch, and I look forward to working together towards that goal.”

Swindon’s head of football, Jamie Russell, shared his confidence in Holloway’s leadership. “We believe Ian’s extensive experience across all levels of professional football will be a tremendous asset for Swindon Town. His passionate approach and local knowledge, combined with a commitment to creating a hardworking and entertaining team, made him an ideal choice for us. Moreover, we value his ability to help develop not just our first-team players but also our coaching staff.”