Devastated Alex Mcleish and Ian Holloway fall-gays left with all the pain

Posted Monday, May 23, 2011 by thesun.co.uk

Devastated Alex Mcleish and Ian Holloway fall-gays left with all the pain
Ian Holloway salutes Blackpool’s loyal fans after losing against Manchester United

BIRMINGHAM and Blackpool were relegated yesterday on one of the most incredible afternoons in the history of the Premier League.

Twelve weeks after winning the Carling Cup at Wembley, Alex McLeish’s side lost 2-1 at Tottenham to land back in the Championship – and that could cost the manager his job. And in an astonishing game of twists and turns at Old Trafford, Blackpool were beaten 4-2 by Manchester United to go down after just one season in the top flight. They join West Ham in the Championship.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway said: “It’s devastating. We didn’t deserve it but that is life. The Fat Lady has put the mike down.” McLeish said: “It’s probably the worst moment of my career because I’ve been in charge of this team the whole year. It’s my lads.”

Amazingly, Gary Taylor-Fletcher had put Blackpool 2-1 up in the 57th minute before they capitulated.

Wigan, who began the day second from bottom, snatched a 1-0 triumph at Stoke with a late winner from Hugo Rodallega and they survive along with Wolves and Blackburn.

An amazing game at Molineux saw Blackburn win 3-2 after leading 3-0 at the break. But Mick McCarthy’s Wolves made it home by a point despite the defeat.

Holloway added: “It isn’t today that has let us down – if we have let ourselves down at all this season. We had a run in the second half of the season where we found it very difficult to get any momentum.”

But Holloway, who fears his team could now split up, said: “We have a special group here but it will probably dissipate now.”

McLeish said: “I’ll bounce back. I have been knocked down today, but it is not fatal and I am going to rise to it again.”

He will meet the club owners and said: “We will have a chat midweek and then we will see where we go from there.

“I have a good contract and, as far as I’m aware, I’ll be honouring that.”

Wolves boss McCarthy said: “It’s fabulous and I am delighted. I never thought we would ever come back but now we can now build on this.”

Blackburn manager Steve Kean, whose position would also have come under scrutiny had they gone down, said: “We probably kept our best performance of the season to the final day.”

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez said: “I threw my jacket into the crowd – but I think I left my wallet in it.

“We have dedicated our campaign to George Owen, an 83-year-old fan who died recently.”