Ian Holloway demands Man City are sent to non-league in furious rant

Ian Holloway has demanded Manchester City be sent to non-league football, accusing the club’s owners of damaging the game during an impassioned pre-match media appearance.

The Swindon Town manager was asked about City’s financial-rule case ahead of his side’s League Two fixture against Crewe Alexandra.

He called for punishment extending beyond a points deduction, arguing that City should lose their titles and rebuild outside the professional leagues.

Holloway calls for City to start again

“And is it a points deduction? For me, get the hell down. Put them in non-league somewhere,” Holloway said.

He wanted City to rebuild under financial restrictions and questioned whether their owners would remain interested if they had to start again.

His criticism became a wider defence of football’s place in English life.

“Get lost! How dare you ruin what’s part of our country, our DNA in this country.”

City have appealed the independent commission’s findings and maintain their innocence. The Premier League has said sanctions will be considered separately, with Holloway’s demand representing his view of how the club should be punished.

Why Holloway feels personally affected

Holloway recalled managing Blackpool during the 2010–11 Premier League season, saying he had “felt robbed”.

He revisited his frustration with refereeing decisions against City and connected those memories with his reaction to the financial findings.

But he also spoke about football far removed from the Premier League, describing the enjoyment of watching his granddaughters play and seeing them become part of a team.

That community connection ran through his response. Holloway argued that football belongs to people regardless of wealth and depends on the belief that teams have a fair chance to compete.

His demand was for City to rebuild under the same financial constraints as everyone else, rather than receive a punishment he considered insufficient.