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Even the most casual of football fans will have heard the news this week that “Mr. Loyalty and Honesty” Ian Holloway walked out on Plymouth Argyle this week to become the sixth Leicester City manager of 2007.

Now even the most green-tinted of Argyle fans would admit that Leicester City have a much better setup than Argyle (A stadium that is actually fully built, regular 20,000+ crowds, training facilities that don’t freeze over for 2 months a year, and a chairman who is happy to splash the cash), and that Holloway is a very ambitious man - Given that, you can hardly blame him for jumping ship can you?

Erm, well yes you can actually. Whilst few would argue against the reasons for Holloways move, what has really riled Argyle fans (and true football fans of other clubs) has been the manner in which Holloway has conducted himself over the whole matter.

Having always promoted himself as an honest and loyal bloke, just a football fan like you or me, and been outspoken about the vigalante players looking to chase the bigger bucks rather than stay loyal to the clubs that give them their chances, it goes against everything he has ever said to walk out on a club just for a bigger salary and some money to spend on players. In fact it goes against everything he said just two weeks ago… Here are just some of the Hollow Words that Ian Holloway has spoken over the last 17 months:

“I’m in the right place” - At his first PAFC press conference, June 2006

“I’m here for the long haul… I spent 5 years at (Bristol) Rovers and 5 years at QPR.. I’ve got a 3 year contract here, but I hope to be here for longer than that.” June 2006

“I’m never walked out of anything in my life. I’m not a quitter” - At a fans forum, July 2007

“Sometimes you don’t need to (talking about spending large transfer fees) , it’s about your spirit and your togetherness and that’s what I deem very important in a football club.” - Talking in his BBC Column, August 17th 2007

“We’ve got Leicester on Saturday and they’ve sacked their manager, which was a bit of a strange state of affairs - especially after they’d just beaten Watford 4-1… Our contracts aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.” - Talking about his new boss Milan Mandaric’s decision to sack Martin Allen, 31st August 2007

“There is a danger that some people are doing it for the money these days, whereas when we started it was all about how good we could be, not how rich we wanted to be” - BBC Column, October 12th 2007 (6 weeks before doubling his salary)

“There’s no truth in it, and all it does is upset some Plymouth Argyle fans who think I might be moving. I’ve signed a contract and until my chairman tells me any different, I’m staying here.” - Talking about speculation he would be leaving Argyle to take over at Leicester City in his BBC column, November 2nd 2007

“We need to stick together - all the time” - His final program notes, November 10th 2007

“If you need me to say it again, I’m in love with the place. It’s absolutely magnificent. Ask my players who I’m trying to talk into staying here how Ian Holloway feels about Plymouth Argyle. I think they will tell you the truth.” - PAFC Press conference, November 12th 2007

“There’s not a scrap of truth in any of it.” - November 12th 2007, When asked if he was going to Leicester”

“There is no truth in the rumour. I haven’t contacted Plymouth and I have no intention of doing so. Ian Holloway will not be the next manager of Leicester - he (Holloway) hasn’t been in my thoughts about getting the job” - Milan Mandaric, November 19th

November 20th - Milan Mandaric contacts Paul Stapleton asking permission to speak to Holloway. Stapleton informs Holloway, who says he would like to speak to Mandaric. Stapleton refuses permission.

November 21st - Holloway hands in his resignation.

November 22nd - Holloway is unveiled as the 6th Leicester Manager of 2007.

“It is most important to get the right guy and if we can get Ian he will be the right guy.” - Milan Mandaric, November 22nd 2007

“I just didn’t think my heart was in it once I heard Leicester were interested.” - Holloway at his first LCFC press conference on November 22nd 2007

“I’m in the right place” - Also at his first press conference.. have we heard that before? November 22nd 2007

“It was breaking my heart that I might not have the opportunity to spend all that money… If you look at my management career, the lack of money has made all my players go to other clubs… This is a business decision, like it was when Bristol Rovers sacked me” - BBC Column, November 23rd

“I’ve never told a lie in my life” - Post match press conference November 24th 2007

To use Holloway’s famous “bird in a taxi” analogy, most argyle fans right now are feeling like they’ve gone out for the evening, met a nice bird, got her in the taxi, took her home, had a nice cup of coffee thanks very much, moved in together, got married and made plans to have kids, only to find out that all the while she’s telling you how much she loves you and wants to be with you, she’s actually buggered off with the rich bloke up the road.

This week has not just been a bad week for Argyle fans - it’s been a bad week for football fans everywhere, as we have seen one of the last “honest, loyal” people in football be shown to be nothing of the kind. I personally will never believe another word that comes out of that mans mouth - If I want honesty from a footballer who I feel really does speak his mind and not just looking to boost his media profile, I’ll go listen to Roy Keane.

To end on a positive note, in our first match of the post-Holloway era at Argyle (a 1-0 victory away at Sheffield United), we have moved into a play-off spot, so whilst Hollow Words goes forth (and multiplies), Plymouth Argyle go Fourth (in the table).

Onwards and upwards Come on you Greens!

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