Ian Holloway reckons Swindon Town are ‘haunted’ however has plan for spouse to repair it

Ian Holloway has promised to “cleanse” Swindon’s “haunted” training ground as he desperately tries to win a game.

The former Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers boss was appointed as the club’s new manager last month as he replaced Mark Kennedy. But it has not quite gone to plan so far.

Holloway has yet to win a league game as Swindon manager – leaving the side sitting 22nd in League Two. Their latest outing saw them draw 2-2 with Accrington Stanley.

Swindon have also been beset with misfortune on the injury front, with captain Ollie Clarke becoming the latest to pick up an issue as he ruptured a tendon in his ankle during training. And Holloway believes that paranormal activity could have something to do with the situation that the club find themselves in.

Speaking with BBC Radio Wiltshire, he said: “I’m absolutely devastated so I’m going to try and cleanse the training ground area because people are telling me it’s haunted. There’s a graveyard somewhere near. Honestly, I’m not joking.

“I think our training ground is very close to an ancient burial site so I’m going to get my wife to come up and say sorry to all these people and hopefully we’ll have a bit more luck.”

And while Holloway is aiming to find a resolution to the ghostly goings-on, he has stopped short of following Barry Fry’s example. The former Birmingham boss allegedly had a wee in all four corners of the St Andrews’ pitch in an effort to lift an apparent curse put on the club.

“I don’t want to do what he did, I think he had to urinate on the corners of his pitch but I’m going to get my wife to come up with her sage,” Holloway added.

“I’ve done the Glastonbury stuff and the hail and welcome – great if you believe it. Do I? Really I’m not sure but I’m going to get it just to help because there’s some strange things happening.”

Swindon have an excellent chance to earn their first victory of the Holloway era this weekend. They take on bottom of the table Morecambe at home on Saturday afternoon.

A win could potentially see Holloway’s side move four points clear of the relegation zone. But a defeat could see them slump to the bottom of the table.

The side have been in League Two since their relegation at the end of the 2020/21 campaign. The highest they have finished since then has been sixth the following campaign.

Swindon finished 19th last term – nine points clear of relegation. The club has never dropped out of the Football League in their history.