Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has emerged as Mick McCarthy’s main rival for the Town job with the 49-year-old now the second favourite, his odds having been cut to as low as 2/1 by some bookmakers this afternoon.

Town are believed to have enquired regarding the terms on which Holloway could be prised from Bloomfield Road after three and a half years in which he has taken them into the Premier League for one season and to last May’s Championship play-off final, where they lost to West Ham.

According to reports at the weekend, that would cost the Blues £500,000 with chief executive Simon Clegg having confirmed that Town would be willing to pay compensation in order to get who they felt was the right man for the job.

The one-time Bristol Rovers, QPR and Plymouth boss is also believed to have been interesting Burnley, Blackburn and Crystal Palace.

Ex-Wolves, Sunderland, Republic of Ireland and Millwall manager McCarthy, who is understood to have flown back to the UK from a spell away in Portugal earlier this week, has been the frontrunner to succeed Paul Jewell ever since reports of talks with the Blues first emerged on Friday. He remains odds-on at the few bookmakers not to have suspended betting on the market.

However, it is not yet a done deal with Clegg confirming that interviews with the shortlisted candidates are currently taking place. Town are hopeful of coming to a resolution before the weekend.

Photo: Action Images

Mark added 17:46 - Oct 30 I'd be happy with either McCarthy or Holloway, two very good managers. If Ipswich can attact someone of this calibre when we are bottom of the Championship we've done pretty well!
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darren added 17:49 - Oct 30 be happy with either with olly we would have good football but mick would be a safe bet so happy either way were bottom of the league and if its true just goes to show how good a club ipswich really is to attract interest of this kind
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Vizslaraner added 17:49 - Oct 30 I'd love this. Ollie is the right man for us 100%. As I said previously has man management skills and boundless enthusiasm to get players playing for him. I do think mCcarthy wd kick butt but wd he take us forward. Just say the unthinkable happens and we go dwn, I feel with ollie he wd get us back up on a budget quickly. A genuine top man who wd be proud to manage this grt club

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Edmunds5 added 17:51 - Oct 30 Been my first choice and have always thought he would be well interested, In a way this is the perfect scenario, the two emerging contenders are arguarbly the two most suitable candidates for the situation we find ourselves in. Either way I would be happy but Ian Holloway is perhaps the slightly better fit due to his attractive football and maybe has more potential in developing a long term strategy.

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Edmunds5 added 17:51 - Oct 30 Been my first choice and have always thought he would be well interested, In a way this is the perfect scenario, the two emerging contenders are arguarbly the two most suitable candidates for the situation we find ourselves in. Either way I would be happy but Ian Holloway is perhaps the slightly better fit due to his attractive football and maybe has more potential in developing a long term strategy.

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backwiththeboysagain added 17:54 - Oct 30 I'd be happy with McCarthy, but delighted with Holloway
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Norwichbeater added 17:54 - Oct 30 Its a no- brainer for me. if olly is available and wants to come i would go for him. his success rate is great and the style of football would bring happy faces back and improve crowds. Holland his number 2 would be great also
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ericclacton added 17:55 - Oct 30 I just had a bet with dodgy Joe Wedge that the next town manager wont be a horse.
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karls_dad added 17:56 - Oct 30 Offer Ollie a five year contract and he will come without doubt, Blackpool are extracting it out of him with this 12 month rolling deal, with a 5 year plan would suit him and us, just get him to sign, i,ll even nip up to the lights and get him!
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Big_Foot_Blue added 17:56 - Oct 30
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Hatman added 17:56 - Oct 30 Ollie is great fun, great character, have to like him. Blckpool play attractive football BUT Ollie has not sustained success with them. Relegated at Leicester, could do nothing with QPR either. Track record not a patch on Curbs, who with Holland is the dream ticket.
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thechangingman added 17:58 - Oct 30 If I am really honest, I am one of those Town fans who has far too high an aspiration as to who should be our manager. For me, it's like assessing potential suitors for one's Princess Daughter - "No, of course Prince Harry isn't good enough for you!!!" That said, I am really surprised by my own response to these two (Holloway/McCarthy). For where we're at, with the players (and their attitudes!!) I am very happy indeed to see either one of these two herald in what I hope AT LONG LAST will be a brighter era for my beloved Blues. Come on folks - let's get behind whichever of these two take up the reins and start dreaming BIG again - after an appropriate clear out of course!!!!

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lucytown added 18:02 - Oct 30 Ian Holloway - great motivator. Mick McCarthy - if Keane n Jewell couldn't get squad sorted not sure MM can.
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StuartBrett8 added 18:02 - Oct 30 Either would be amazing.... neither would be a disaster.... get a deal done ASAP
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BrettenhamBlue added 18:02 - Oct 30 Holloway, McCarthy, Curbishley. Happy with all 3. Think any of them could sort out the attitude of our squad. Knowing our luck negotiations will break down with all 3 and Megson or Mark Robins will be unveiled as our new manager. It's a massive job. Our club is a right mess. A real gamble for whoever takes it. Fans will want mid-table this season and a top 6 place next and we are nowhere near at the mo. Hope fans expectations are realistic. Surviving relegation now is our number 1 aim. We need to come higher than 3 other teams in this league. We need to start picking up points and fast (realistically 4 points in our next 2 games). We also need to start keeping an eye on the likes of Wednesday, Bristol City, Peterborough and hope that they lose. We need 3 teams to do worse than us....that's all.

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timspencero added 18:04 - Oct 30 agh. i just don't know anymore.
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jayceee added 18:06 - Oct 30 Only thing is, we might not get Holland with Holloway? I now Matt, is untested, no experience etc, but would be nice to have him as assistant!
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neillrumsey added 18:10 - Oct 30 Don't personally see there being alot of truth behind this. Hope I'm proved wrong as his sides play great football.
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Daleyitfc added 18:10 - Oct 30 Bite his hand off, and don't even waste another second on any of the others. If he's prepared to come here, pay him (and Blackpool) whatever they want in cash or (preferably) players and other staff! He's worth 10 of McCarthy and about 100 of all the others (and 1000 of Keane),
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La_Paz added 18:10 - Oct 30 Wow. Now this would be amazing. A truly good guy from what I've seen who would also make my visits to PR much more enjoyable than of late in terms of the football on show. Don't want to get my hopes up though!
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ericclacton added 18:12 - Oct 30 Well I like Ian Holloway but Ialso like Mick Mac.........FIGHT.
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Maverick_Mitch added 18:12 - Oct 30 If only the bookies could have their way! Either one could do the job we need but I having looked at the video Big Foot Blue posted Ollie would make me smile (or cry) more. The real problem? It's not the bookies or the fans making the choice - its businessman ME and 'I'm in charge' SC so god knows who'll get unveiled in the end!
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Urchin added 18:14 - Oct 30 pie in the sky - nothing to substantiate that we are even talking to him. Hence the commentsin the article : Town are "BELIEVED" to..... and accorind to REPORTs.... But hey, I wish to God it was true
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Keaneish added 18:19 - Oct 30 Given our inability to defend, we'd see an exciting Joe Royle style end to the season under Holloway given the free flowing football he instills in his teams. 43 points from 99 points - that's the game! Which one of these two can hit that target? I'd like to see Holloway in just to hear his post match interviews when asked about Jay Emmanuel-Thomas's performances! Comedy Gold on the horizon!

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mickswich added 18:21 - Oct 30 i don`t believe this. Why would he leave Blackpool for a team at the bottom of the league. I wish it were true but it makes no sense.
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