Ollie holds no Houllier grudge
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway says his spat with Gerard Houllier is in the past as he prepares to welcome the Aston Villa manager to Bloomfield Road.
Holloway branded Villa's bids of £2.5million and £3.5million for Charlie Adam as "disgraceful" during the January transfer window.
But the Blackpool boss is looking to move on from the matter and says he will not be giving Houllier the cold shoulder ahead of their clash on Saturday.
He said: "That's all finished and that's all through.
"If I see something, I normally say it, but that's gone now - I never hold any grudges and I can't wait to see Mr Houllier and his team here."
Holloway sung the praises of Adam, who played for Scotland in the 3-0 win over Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
Absolutely fantastic
"He is an absolutely fantastic footballer, I keep saying it," said the Blackpool boss.
"He is a wonderful lad, on and off the field, and he is getting picked by Scotland now as I told him he would be. I believe he will be captain one day."
Liverpool and Tottenham also had approaches rebuffed for Adam, who says he respects Holloway's decision to keep hold of him.
The Seasiders skipper told the Blackpool Gazette: "My relationship with the manager is crazy, mental.
"Everybody loves our manager because he says what he thinks. He's an honest manager and maybe sometimes he's too honest.
"But I have a fantastic relationship with him. The clubs who were interested in me were massive clubs. He felt it wasn't right at the time and I respect his decision.
"He thinks me being there until the end of the season will give the club a better chance of staying up, so that's the way it's going to be."
Phillips keeps his focus
Blackpool winger Matt Phillips is staying focused despite transfer speculation linking him with a return to the big time.
Premier League trio Bolton, Norwich and Swansea are being linked to the 20-year-old, who was signed from Wycombe for £350,000 15 months ago.
But Phillips just wants to keep playing football and scoring goals as the Seasiders bid to win promotion from the Championship.
He told the Blackpool Gazette: "The future is unwritten but I am happy at this club.
"He is helping us and as long as he keeps playing like he is, I think he'll have an unbelievably bright future."
Ian Holloway Quotes of the week
"I am playing and enjoying it and it is just good to be in the first team every week. That's what I want to do - play as much football as I can.
"I am 21 in March and I want to play a lot, score goals and enjoy my football."
Hat-trick
Phillips notched six goals in as many games for Sheffield United after being sent on loan in October and then scored a Boxing Day hat-trick to beat Barnsley after returning to Bloomfield Road.
Asked if he was worried about Phillips being a transfer target, Blackpool boss Ian Holloway said: "Probably, but all I can do is help the boy. He is helping us and as long as he keeps playing like he is, I think he'll have an unbelievably bright future.
"Why can't he think we are going to get to the Premier League? The likelihood is that the teams who want him are the teams that scrambled up and who might scramble to stay up, like us last year ... so why are they any better than us? I'm not so sure they are.
"If the likes of Liverpool come in for people like Matt, you can understand that. But if I was him, I'd be thinking: 'Am I going to play every week?'"
