Holloway: Millwall never got me

Ian Holloway believes he and QPR are a natural fit – and that he was never really accepted by his previous club Millwall.

Holloway is back at Loftus Road for a second spell as manager and will be assisted by former QPR and Millwall midfielder Marc Bircham.

The pair also worked together during Holloway’s time as Lions boss, which ended when he was replaced by Neil Harris in March last year.

Speaking at a press conference following his return to QPR, Holloway said: “This club, I can’t even describe how it feels. It’s in you.

“I could never get that feeling in my last job because they knew I never played for them. They never got me, I don’t think, and I understand that.

“Hopefully they’ll get Neil, because he’s one of them. That’s just football.”

Holloway took QPR from the third tier into the Championship during his first spell in charge and has since won promotion to the top flight with Blackpool and Crystal Palace.

And the 53-year-old believes it is a matter of when, not if, Rangers go back to the Premier League.

“I know we will do it, it’s just when,” he declared.

“I’d be stupid to say it’s this year or next year or the year after because what’s the point in limiting yourself?

“I know I’ve got Premier League methods – I got 39 points with the worst budget ever [at Blackpool]. I want to get 40 points in the Premier League one day but I’ve got to earn the right to get there.

“Are there that many clubs that far ahead of us at this moment in our league? I think there’s maybe two or three who might in a better situation but I don’t think they’re infallible.”