Ollie keeps alive Tangerine dream (From The Bolton News)

Ollie keeps alive Tangerine dream

9:19am Wednesday 18th August 2010 in

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WE expected fun and games with Ian Holloway in the Premiership but no one thought Blackpool would kick off in such entertaining fashion.

Not even Jimmy Armfield, a Seasider throughout his distinguished playing career and as proud as any man alive to see his old club back in top-flight football.

They might be dear to his heart but even Gentleman Jim couldn’t resist a joke at their expense. Caught perusing the fixture list, he was asked if he was looking for where the first win would come . . . and replied like a shot: “Actually, I’m looking for the first corner.”

But, if Saturday was anything to go by, Ollie and his Tangerines might just have the last laugh on all of us.

At the end of a week when rumours were rife he had resigned in protest at the club’s refusal to pay the going rate to attract halfdecent players, then rushing through five new signings 48 hours before the season’s start, Holloway had the look of a man who’d had a sense of humour bypass.

But the joke was on Wigan.

With construction work on Bloomfield Road forcing Blackpool to switch their opening fixture to the DW Stadium, the Latics were handed a massive advantage – a home banker against a side backed heavily to go straight back down with the worst ever Premierhip points total.

But what Roberto Martinez hadn’t banked on was his team, the defence in particular, turning in such an abject performance – 3-0 down at half time, 4-0 at the final whistle – which had Blackpool fanatics rushing for copies of the league table that, for three hours until Chelsea walloped West Brom, showed them top of the Premiership.

Ollie did his best to play it down, insisting everyone kept their feet on the ground, but he didn’t disappoint the assembled journalists who were hoping for one of his trademark one-liners.

Asked if he was heading back to Blackpool to celebrate, he revealed he was driving down to his family home in Bristol to see his wife’s new poodle – presumably looking for a few pointers for the dog’s life that’s just round the corner.