Blackpool give Crystal Palace permission to speak to Ian Holloway

Crystal Palace have been given permission by Blackpool to talk to Ian Holloway and he is set to become the club's new manager over the weekend.

The Eagles have been searching for Dougie Freedman's successor since last Thursday when he left to fill the vacant manager's job at Bolton Wanderers.

They made an approach late last night, with chairman Steve Parish telling The Independent that he was hopeful of acquiring Holloway - who is much revered for his success at the Seasiders on a shoestring budget.

Talks between Holloway and his chairman Karl Oyston took place this afternoon, with the former not only desperate to leave the club, but for his assistant manager Steve Thompson to join him at Selhurst Park.

Blackpool want to keep their backroom staff together to avoid further disruption mid-season, and a further sticking point arose when Oyston requested more than the reported £400,000 for Holloway.

It is thought that Thompson wants to remain at Bloomfield Road, where he has family ties, in the hope that he will be promoted to become Holloway's replacement. He will take charge of the match away at Derby County tomorrow afternoon.