Ten-year anniversary of Blackpool's promotion to the Premier League: Ian Holloway prepared to be in the firing line on his return to Plymouth as assistant 'Thommo' calls for repeat of 2007 heroics

Over the coming weeks, The Gazette’s football writer Matt Scrafton will be dipping into the archives to bring you our reports from a decade ago on Blackpool’s remarkable journey to the promised land.

On this day 10 years ago, Ian Holloway admitted he was prepared to be in the firing line on his return to his former club Plymouth Argyle...

Ian Holloway insists he is looking forward to returning to Plymouth this weekend for the first time since quitting the club to take over at Leicester City.

That left him public enemy number one in the eyes of Pilgrims fans.

And it means Saturday’s game – as important for Plymouth’s survival hopes as it is to the Seasiders’ play-off dreams – has added spice.

“I don’t care what reception I get,” said Holloway. “They have a different board now and everything has changed, so what on earth has it got to do with Ian Holloway? Absolutely nothing.

“I just want three points, no matter who the opposition. It’s not about me – it’s about trying to get a victory for Blackpool, which we desperately want.

“The people there can think and say what they want about me but I’m looking forward to taking my Blackpool team there.

“We beat them 2-0 at home and I thought we played them off the park. I have to try and do that again.

“They’ve had a great run of results lately and well done to Paul Mariner (who had replaced Paul Sturrock as manager in December) because it is not easy turning around a side that had been struggling a bit.”

After failing to win at two of his other former clubs this season, QPR and Leicester, Holloway is desperately hoping to break his duck and get three points at Home Park.

He added: “I haven’t beaten any of my old teams away yet and I’d love to beat Plymouth tomorrow, just for the fact that we’d be on 57 points and in and around the hunt.

“It is nothing personal against Plymouth but a win would give us a chance of having a really good run at it in the last few games.

“But we have to earn the right. We have to go there and play the right way, and make sure we’re mentally right for it as we were against Swansea the other night.”

Pool will be well supported at Home Park. A fan, who asked to remain anonymous, has paid for several coaches to make the trip to the south coast and almost 300 fans have taken advantage of the offer.

“I understand one supporter has made a marvellous gesture and paid for coaches for the fans to use for the trip,” Holloway added. “That’s great, and I’m sure it will add to the atmosphere and give us a lift.

“Our away support has been first-class throughout the season and I am sure those that make the long trek will be in fine voice.

“The lads certainly do appreciate the lengths people go to follow us.”

Meanwhile, assistant manager Steve Thompson is hoping the Seasiders can turn back the clock and repeat their promotion heroics of three years ago.

Back in 2007, Pool won their last 10 games to clinch a stunning promotion to the Championship.

A run of victories in the final seven games of this campaign would go a long way to helping the Seasiders grab a play-off spot.

And Thompson says there is no reason why the club can’t do it. “We went on a great run a couple of seasons ago and why can’t we do it again now? That’s what we’re aiming to do,” he said.

“Yes, we’re in a higher division but there’s an even bigger prize at the end of it now. We know what we need to do and we have our own targets.

“I think the play-offs are a realistic target. The teams above us could get nervous. They have some tough games coming up.

“If we keep picking up these results you never know what might happen.

“At the other end of it, I also think the points for safety will be higher than last season because there are a lot of teams at the bottom end winning.

“So it is important we keep picking points up either way you look at it.”