Ian Holloway

Biography:

QPR manager Ian Holloway vowed to come back even stronger next after his side lost 1-0 to Cardiff City in the 2002/03 Nationwide Division Two play-off final.

QPR had the chances to win the game but were finally undone by Andy Campbell's extra-time goal but Holloway was understandably proud of his players.

"I might be disappointed but I am so proud of my team," he said after the game.

"He who dares to win sometimes has to lose but what we have to do is keep this feeling in our heart, remember it next year and become stronger.

"I want the spirit to get better and I want us to bounce back. The players are playing how I want them to play and I couldn't ask for any more from them. I wouldn't be prouder even if we had won.

"It's my job now to make us better and stronger with the help of the board - and that's what I intend to do. We're at a crossroads now and I hope that people will want come in and invest in this wonderful football club.

"We aim for number one next year - you aim for the stars and you might get the sky. We plummeted today, but again - I jut can't tell you how proud I am of this team."

Ian returned to Loftus Road in February 2001, taking over from the departing manager Gerry Francis with QPR fighting against relegation to Division Two.

He managed to keep them up that season but they went down the following year.

His appointment came less than a month after his dismissal from Bristol Rovers and with just thirteen games of the 2000/2001 season remaining for him to try and keep The Hoops up.

Having made his senior debut as a player for Bristol Rovers back in April 1981, when he made a substitute appearance against Wrexham, he left in 1985 for Wimbledon before going to Brentford. He returned to the Memorial Stadium in 1987 under Gerry Francis and spent a further four years in The Pirates' midfield.

He followed Francis to Loftus Road in 1991 and spent five years at QPR, making 147 appearances and becoming a firm favourite with the Loftus Road fans, before returning to Bristol Rovers as player/manager in May 1996.

After a tricky start to his managerial career, Ian led The Pirates to the Second Division play-offs in 1998, where they lost to Northampton in the semi-finals, then narrowly missed out on a play-off berth in 1999/2000.

Bristol Rovers were also struggling against relegation - in Division Two - when Ian was dismissed in January 2001, ending his third spell with his hometown club. Although he was disappointed, he was quickly given the opportunity to return to management, and facing a similar challenge at QPR.

(info as at 01/10/03)