Former Blackpool defender Alan Wright: Ian Holloway is the man to get club back up

Ian Holloway,Manchester United v Blackpool

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Following the club’s relegation to the Championship, former Blackpool defender Alan Wright believes the club have got a hard year ahead of them but that manager Ian Holloway is the man to take them back up.

The Tangerines were relegated from the Premier League on the last day of the season after they lost at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

Next season will be an important one for the club as, ideally, they would like to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, however, as they look set to lose a number of key players who acquitted themselves so well in the Premier League – namely Charlie Adam, David Vaughan and DJ Campbell – steadying the ship may be the main priority.

Alan Wright, a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers in 1995, believes that although next season could be a turbulent one, he insists that there is no one better for the job than Ian Holloway.

Speaking to Blackpool’s official website, Wright said: “Holloway is going to have a very difficult job on his hands because it looks like he will lose a number of players but he is definitely the man for the job, there’s no question about that.

“He is well aware and the club are well aware of what they’re going to have to do – ideally you’d like to think that they’ll bring some players in and can bounce straight back but as we know that’s not always the case and it’s a very difficult league to get out of.

“The manager is paramount to it all, he’s a fantastic character who knows what he wants and he gets the very best out of every player that he works with.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him because he went into the club and changed it all around and got them promoted and so, so close to staying in the Premier League.

Wright feels fellow relegated side West Ham’s extra financial clout and experience will serve them well as promotion favourites next season.

“You’ve got to look at West Ham as the biggest rivals for promotion,” he explained. “There’s so many big clubs in there – Leeds, Nottingham Forest – they’ll be there or thereabouts but you would imagine West Ham will be the favourites.

“I think they’ve got the financial backing to still attract big players to the club and pay decent wages and the appointment of Sam Allardyce was a wise one because he’s a master in this sort of situation.

“There are a lot of teams in there that you wouldn’t say are Championship clubs given their fanbases and the money they have to spend – they’re Premier League clubs and that makes it such a tough division to get out of.”