"Ian Holloway advocates for bitter rivals' promotion to the Premier League, saying 'I'd say let's kill it for them.'"
Ian Holloway's Shocking Allegiance: A Bristol Rovers Fan Roars for Bristol City in Championship Play-offs
The buzz around Bristol City is electric - after a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Preston, they've snatched a shot at Premier League promotion, a feat that hasn't been achieved in a whopping 17 years. But the celebration is bittersweet in Bristol, as archenemies, Bristol Rovers, were relegated to League Two following their 22nd-place finish in League One.
Many would expect Ian Holloway, a die-hard Pirates fan and a man who's worn the Rovers jersey not once, not twice, but three times, to be less than enthused. Yet, this legendary football manager, currently leading Swindon Town, couldn't be farther from dismayed.
Joining Ally McCoist and Gabby Agbonlahor on talkSPORT Breakfast ahead of his new book release, Holloway was asked about City's achievement, and his reaction was anything but what people expected.
"You've just killed me, I won't be able to go out, you realise that you two - because I'm going to have to tell the truth!" he laughed, before confessing, "My team who I've supported all my life, Bristol Rovers, got relegated. And Bristol City our nemesis - I can't tell you how proud I am."
Despite his deep-rooted loyalties, Holloway couldn't hide his admiration for the fine work done by City technical director and former rival player, Brian Tinnion, and head coach, Liam Manning, who's made an incredible recovery after a personal tragedy.
"Brian Tinnion, me and him, we were cat and dogs with each other all the time," Holloway admitted. "But I'm so proud of how well Liam Manning's done. He had to have some private leave, he had a terrible mess up in his family, he lost a child, it was unbelievable."
City now faces Sheffield United in the play-off semi-finals, and Holloway praised their resilience, particularly given their struggles earlier in the season marked by a two-point deduction by the EFL last April.
"It's a huge achievement [for Bristol City] to be sixth," Holloway acknowledged. "Sheffield United, what a season they've had, absolutely outstanding."
Ian Holloway, the man who's inspired attacking football and transformed struggling teams like Swindon Town and Bristol Rovers, may now have found a new beacon to cheer for in the Championship play-offs. But rest assured, dear Rovers fans: he's only momentarily crossed sides. Don't hold your hatred for him too dear!
Listen to live and exclusive coverage of the first leg between Bristol City and Sheffield United on the talkSPORT app!
As for Holloway's connection to Bristol City and his support for them, recent reports show no direct evidence of his involvement in their 2025 Championship play-off campaign. Instead, the focus appears to be on his managerial role at Swindon Town and potential coach positions concerning Bristol Rovers. However, his reputation as a coach who fosters attacking football and mentality improvements across teams certainly lends an interesting perspective to the bigger picture of Bristol football.
- Ian Holloway, a manager known for fostering attacking football, surprisingly enjoyed Bristol City's promotion shot in the Premier League, despite his lifelong support for rivals, Bristol Rovers.
- Holloway admitted his excitement for Bristol City's achievement, despite his Rovers roots, feeling proud of the fine work done by technical director Brian Tinnion and head coach Liam Manning.
- In a conversation on talkSPORT Breakfast, Holloway praised City's upcoming opponent, Sheffield United, acknowledging their resilience, particularly given their struggles marked by a point deduction by the EFL.
- Holloway's sudden interest in Bristol City's play-off campaign doesn't seem to involve direct involvement, as reports focus on his managerial role at Swindon Town and potential coaching roles concerning Bristol Rovers.
- Holloway's unexpected allegiance to Bristol City provides an interesting perspective to the bigger picture of Bristol football, especially with the ongoing European-leagues and Premier League competitions.
- The buzz around Bristol City and Sheffield United's play-off semi-finals in the Championship is electric, with Holloway applauding both teams for their determination and resilience.
- Despite his temporary support for Bristol City, Holloway remains a dedicated Rovers fan at heart, with his reputation in sports analysis ensuring that he'll continue to inspire and transform teams with attacking football across different sports leagues, including NHL, Champions League, and other European leagues.
