ESPNsoccernet: England

New Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has set his sights on emulating his achievement at his former club Blackpool by winning promotion to the Premier League.

Ian Holloway accepts he was in the wrong (PA Photos)

Holloway, who guided the unfancied Seasiders to the top flight in 2010 only to see them narrowly fail to secure survival, was confirmed as the new Selhurst Park manager on Saturday.

And as he prepares for his first game in charge, at home to struggling Ipswich - who also have a new manager in Mick McCarthy - the former midfielder has set his sights on repeating that trick in South London.

The Eagles are third in the Championship, having shown no adverse reaction to ex-manager Dougie Freedman's move to Bolton, and have a number of promising young players coming through the ranks.

Holloway told BBC Radio Five Live: "I am taking over from some fantastic people, and I am the lucky beneficiary. My challenge is to try and beat what I did at Blackpool here at Crystal Palace."

Blackpool are reported to be close to naming a successor to Holloway at Bloomfield Road, with speculation linking Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton with the role.

Their first game after Holloway's departure saw them beaten 4-1 at Derby and, after a promising start to the season, they have slipped into mid-table.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report