IAN Holloway has penned a two-and-a-half-year deal to replace Steve Lomas as Millwall manager.

Ollie quit Crystal Palace in October saying he couldn’t cope with the pressure of life in the Premier League with the newly-promoted Eagles, but has now decided to make a quick return to the game with Millwall.

His first game in charge of the Lions will be Saturday’s away trip to Huddersfield Town.

Many Lions fans will be delighted to get someone who boasts three Championship play-off final appearances and two promotion, from his spells at Blackpool and Palace.

However, he may also have to quickly win a few over after making some comments ahead of his most recent trip to The Den as an opposing manager with the Eagles last April while on a scouting mission.

Holloway said: “I didn’t even get my foot out of the car without being verbally abused.

“I’ve been there a few times and had a bit of banter with their fans and I’m sure I won’t be doing that.

“Normally they’re quite funny. Some of it is bordering on hatred.

“I could never understand that in football myself because the game is about the game.

“Yes you have pride in who you support but should you actually hate someone in life?

“I’m not quite sure about that myself.”

The Lions were managed at the time by Holloway’s close friend Kenny Jackett, with the then Eagles boss saying of then Den chief: “I don’t know how he’s done it because it was pretty hostile down there and then they went 2-1 down (to Blackburn) and the feeling was pretty intense.

“I’m learning about that, I had none of that at Blackpool so I’m going to have to get used to it.

“We want to produce for our fans and it’s important that we do, so let’s start doing it. It’s all about passion in football.

“There’s no more passionate place than Millwall but I think you’ll find that if you stand 20 or 30 Palace fans up on the terraces, they want to win as much as any fans I’ve ever seen.”

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