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Fuming Holloway to appeal against selecting an alleged weakened team

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway was fined £25,000 fine for fielding a weakened team against Aston Villa in November, but he intends to appeal claiming Arsenal recently did something similar but with no punishment from the FA. The Seasiders only lost the game 3-2 at Villa Park, with the winner coming in the last minute almost vindicating his selection.

"I am totally confused as to the rules, who is making them and why I am a football manager and I'm not allowed to manage," he said.

"How can they dare say my lads who did play are not good enough - which is basically what they are saying?

"I feel totally offended by it. I actually offered Karl my resignation because I don't understand where I can go.

"He refused it and said he would deal with it and for it not to stop me trying to do what I am trying to do.

"I am glad he hasn't accepted it but I am very confused and bitter. I feel incensed.

"Absolutely there will be an appeal and I'd like there to be an amendment to the rules.

"Hopefully the League Managers' Association are on that. They have asked me not to talk about it but I've gone and let them down because I feel so strongly about it.

"My chairman is going to deal with that for me. He doesn't understand why his manager and club can be punished for how I manage the club."

Holloway insists every team he selects is capable of winning and is annoyed that other club's have got away with similar selections in the past.

"I think it is a total disgrace that I am told who I can pick and when I can pick them," he added.

"They don't understand what it is like to do my job, with the lowest budget, and tell you your players are not good enough.

"I honestly think it is rubbish. I don't know which team to pick now.

"All I can do is keep trying to put a team out to win a match and that is what I have done every game this season apart from Southampton (in the FA Cup) when I didn't take some of my better players because I thought they were exhausted.

"I had every right to do that but I can't do it in a league game.

"I have tried to win every single match this season, home or away, and I'd like anyone to take me to court and say I didn't - because that is basically what they are saying.

"If Arsenal changed eight the other month why is that allowed and I am not?

"I can't even say I'm being picked on because I've never met these people who made the decision - I'd just like to understand."

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