Ian Holloway's Fiery Rant About 'Illegal' Player Leaves Fans Raving: 'Best Thing We've Ever Heard!'

IAN HOLLOWAY launched one of the most astonishing rants at EFL chiefs in a staggering radio interview.

The Swindon Town manager oversaw a 3-1 comeback win over Barrow on Saturday.

Ian Holloway went on a furious, shouting tirade on local radioCredit: Alamy Ollie Clarke was banned less than 24 hours before kick-off against BarrowCredit: Alamy

He did so despite captain Ollie Clarke being given a one-match ban less than 24 hours before kick-off.

That was because in January, believing his did not apply to the competition.

Swindon were fined £1,000 for the mistake and were informed at 5pm on Friday the key man would not be available to face Barrow.

To make matters worse, the Robins could be hit with another punishment for bringing Aaron Drinan on as a substitute even though he was not named on the team sheet.

And Holloway went on an extraordinary tirade to an innocuous opening question in his post-match interview with BBC Radio Wiltshire – slamming the as “absolutely disgusting”, “cowards”, “unprofessional” and “sickening”.

His anger boiled over so much that he literally shouted into the microphone during his passionate but terrifying monologue.

The former Blackpool and QPR boss, 62, fumed: “We had a terrible blow when I was told at five o’clock [on Friday] that my captain couldn’t play after we prepared with him in the team.

“I’ve rung the League Managers Association to complain – I think it’s unprofessional. I don’t know why we couldn’t miss him on Tuesday.

“Why that meeting was on a Friday is terrible, it’s absolutely disgusting.

“The boy has done nothing wrong and if they look at themselves, it was on their goddamn stinking portal and whatever they say is for me a joke, honestly.

“They’ve given us the smallest fine they could possibly do but they’ve hampered me as a manager.

“How are they allowed to say he is banned for tomorrow and I’ve got no time to change my team?

“Do you now what I can do about it? Absolutely nothing.

“Now we have another one on Monday which is another charade.

“I asked the officials whose responsibility it is to let a player not named on the team sheet go on and they said it would be theirs.

“It’s disgusting!”

Raging continued: “They want to fine me? Good! They want to ban me? Good! Do it.

“Have a look at yourselves, every single goddamn one of you. It’s absolutely disgusting.

‘SORT YOUR LIVES OUT’

“And whether I get another game or not, I don’t really care anymore.

“I care about my team, I care about my captain, I care about my players, and I should be allowed to prepare professionally.

“I’ll tell you what’s professional… she looked at the portal and made one mistake by pressing one wrong button on these horrible computers that will take over the world in the end.

“I forgive her but the referee and fourth official let her down. Apparently she should have checked with the handbook.

“Sort your lives out every single stinking one of you.”

On the impact it has had around the County Ground, Holloway added: “It’s a siege mentality in my head now, absolutely totally and utterly.

“And if Luton go through [in the EFL Trophy], good luck to you. We beat you fair and poxy square.

“That’s what’s been hanging around us like a stinking something in your underpants that shouldn’t be there.

“I’ve said it now, and you know what we’re going to get absolutely not listened to, not anything to do with it.

“They’re all too big to admit, ‘Oh, hang on.’ And the pair of them don’t even get on anyway, the FA and the EFL don’t like each other.

EFL handbook should be a thing of the past, not being funny, still chopping trees down for the handbook, seriously ruining the ozone layer

Ian Holloway

“It’s a joke. They are a law unto themselves.”

In a final blaze, he roared: “I’m not having our club secretary dragged through the coals left, right and centre. You have a look at yourselves, I know how wrong you are, you cowards.

“They’re trying to make it our fault. I think they should be dragged over the coals. I’m not shocked they are hiding, blaming everyone else.

“Your handbook should be a thing of the past, not being funny, still chopping trees down for the handbook, seriously ruining the ozone layer.

“It’s sickening. The world’s not what it is – I found that out when my son’s tattoo shop got set on fire a long time ago. It’s a very different world.

“It’s absolutely sickening. Go and do one, every one of you. Disgusting.”

The epic meltdown went down a storm with fans on social media.

One said: “This is the best thing I’ve ever heard.”

Another wrote: “Fair play to Holloway. He’s not wrong!”

A third added: “This is very quotable.”

And a final user replied: “Bloody brilliant. As a Hatter myself I still hope Swindon remain in the competition as they won. Yes they made a mistake but the officials are more at fault here.”

Promotion-chasing Swindon sit sixth and in the play-offs after ending their three-match losing streak.

They are due to play Plymouth in the EFL Trophy quarter-finals on February 10 – unless they are booted out of the competition before that and replaced by Luton.