Is the boss mad? Yes, but he is also a football Genius

KEITH SOUTHERN revealed Ian Holloway went from tearjerker to peacemaker to help Blackpool clinch their place in the top flight.
The Seasiders midfielder said boss Holloway almost reduced his players to blubbering wrecks ahead of Saturday's Championship play-off final with Cardiff.

But, despite taking a 3-2 lead into the dressing room at half-time, Blackpool's players were bickering among themselves - forcing their manager to step in. Southern explained: "There were a few arguments plus a lot of shouting, because we were disappointed at how we were defending.

"You'd never have known we were 3-2 up! We felt it could have gone a lot better.

"But the gaffer was absolutely magnificent. He shouted louder than anyone to make himself heard and then calmed us all down.

"He told us that if we kept playing like we had been in the first half, we'd win for sure.
"His pre-match team-talk was brilliant too. He told us how he'd been out of football for a year and hardly anyone in the game had talked to him, but how privileged he was to have returned with such a wonderful bunch of lads - and how proud he was of us.

"There were quite a few of us close to bursting into tears.

"He also told us this was our time, that we were the team in form and that we were the team with the most belief. He said we deserved a crack at the big-time as much as By DAVID FACEY anyone and it was all in our hands. It was stirring stuff. (The Sun)