Ian Holloway issues plea to Swindon fans, with apology to them for what he said

Ian Holloway issues plea to Swindon fans, with apology to them and fan group The Spirit of ’69 for what he said.

Throughout his time in charge of the League Two side, he often took issue with supporters who formed a group in response to the club’s decline under owner Clem Morfuni, Holloway instead backing then running of the club.

He has called some protest actions an “absolute load of nonsense”, questioned their authenticity, and suggested he’d rather have fans who are fully supportive attend their matches, even joking about making his own “Ian Holloway supporter” hats.

Holloway has had heated exchanges with fans, including an incident where he had to be restrained by his own players during an argument after a match.

He has repeatedly urged fans to be positive and “get behind” the team, saying negativity doesn’t help the players.

Then after the 2-1 win at Chesterfield in November, he told critical fans to “jog on,” stating that he was “sick of it” and only wanted fans who wanted to be part of building the club up.

Ahead of the EFL Trophy Round of 32 fixture against Peterborough, Holloway added that it upsets him that clubs with traditionally smaller followings are getting a larger crowd than Swindon at home, especially when he believes his team is playing the most attractive, goal-scoring football in the league.

He also spoke of Ollie Palmer being surprised at the quiet atmosphere during home games and questioned whether teams like Chesterfield and Notts County genuinely have bigger fan bases than Swindon.

Ian Holloway’s message to Swindon fans: ‘I need your help. I need us all singing from the same song sheet.’

What do you feel could help boost the home atmosphere? 🎵#STFC #BBCFootball #BBCEFL pic.twitter.com/bRBvKB92yr

— BBC Wiltshire Sport (@BBCWiltsSport) December 1, 2025

He said, per BBC Wiltshire Sport: “You know, I don’t care who you are. I get that you love our club. If you wear the red of our shirt or the orange of the unhappy people, I still accept you. I want to hear what you have to say, but I want to get on with my job. And if you don’t get me by now, I can’t do any more. I need your help.

“I need us all singing from the same song sheet, and that is Swindon Town. And my players need to be supported and helped when they’re not doing very well by a wonderful crowd with just pure enthusiasm. And if we haven’t done enough to get that now, then I apologise. That’s how I feel. And if I’ve upset anybody before, I didn’t mean to.

“With what I’ve said, it was cold, probably an unfair time to give out hats if they’re free, because they’re at least worth a tenner. You know, so what I meant was, I don’t understand. It’s not my business. I didn’t say it that way.

“I’m not a political person. I just care about this club and our club, and I see you as our club and our fans, and I need you to come back and help me help this group. That’s how I feel.

“And I want to just put the record straight. We’re all doing this for one cause. Can we get out of this division that is horrendous to get out of? And believe me, it’s even worse when you’re down the bottom of it, as we knew last year.

“So we’re just a few wonderful cheers away from giving the lads the belief that they might be able to really do something. We’ve still got a very young squad, and I’m absolutely delighted with every one of them.”

He said, per Swindon Advertiser: “I want to work hard. I want us to believe that where we are now is not good enough, and where we have to work to get, and I need us all on that same path.

“I will die trying to get you back up and us back up, but I can’t do it without your help, without moving forward together.

“Everybody has a story to be heard, and I’m willing to hear everybody’s story, but I cannot get one side of the fence; I have to try and do what is right for the club, which is to unite everybody.

“I know you were Swindon Town, but I wish we were Swindon Town United.

“I am asking everybody to try and see it from my point of view. Call me a stranger. I was a stranger before, but I’m not now.

“I am one of you, and I want us to move forward, and I can’t do it without all of us believing that we’re going to be good enough, not that we are good enough, that we’re going to be good enough. We can do that without support, help, and understanding.

Regarding whether teams like Chesterfield and Notts County genuinely have bigger fan bases than Swindon, he said: “I get this from someone who’s experienced just total success over the last few years.

“Ollie Palmer is completely and utterly bemused by what’s happening at home, particularly at home, and I didn’t notice it.

“I haven’t been in it for however long, but there was a stark difference between their [Chesterfield’s] crowd and our crowd [at home]. I fully get it if you’re unhappy, but I want to bring joy here.

“It’s upsetting me that there are clubs that are getting bigger gates than us, and I don’t think they’re playing the football that we are. I don’t think they’re scoring the goals that we are.

“Some of our goals this season have been completely and utterly outstanding. If there was a goal of the season, I think we’d have probably four in it for team goals and movement.

“Have Chesterfield got more fans than us? Notts County, they have got more fans than us, and I don’t believe they really do, truly speaking.”

Twitter users reacted after a Ian Holloway issues a plea to Swindon fans, with an apology to them for what he said…

@BPACKER_: Dividing the town end up by not allowing u18 into t1-t2 has absolutely killed it, dk whose at fault but it’s ridiculous, killed all atmosphere in the stadium. #stfc

@ripstfc: He doesn’t give a shit about you. He bigs the owner up nearly every post game interview and slags the fan base off. Bury got promoted the season before going bust and lee power got us up before dropping us in the shit. This will be no different

@LP15393: Swindon will be coming to us in a couple of weeks singing Christmas carols and will probably still beat us.

@h_theduck: * Manager approved song sheet

@dylanctomes: Remove all restrictions in the Town End and make prices significantly cheaper in there too. You can’t charge £21 for that view in league 2

@Chippenham_fm22: New ownership would be a start!

@buffalo66q: Reduce the pricing in the townend. It’s simple.

@KeithHowe12: Lifting the restrictions in the town end for a start! Clubs fault not fans , stupid decision!! Killed the atmosphere!!

@Coys1994: The town end not being half condemned and 20 quid a ticket is probably a half decent start.

@haradasnsjshsh: More initiatives to pack the Town End: ticket discounts for big games, improvements would all help. The stand has been dead for a couple seasons now.

@DeanJames8: Fair play IH, that’s better, let’s all move forward together.

@Alswin56: He’s perfect for us we need to get out of this league this season 🙌… he doing a great job

@AlfieStfc: Great interview. He’s saying nothing but the truth. Anyone who doesn’t come and support the team because of clem is a plastic. Support your club through thick and thin.

@BernimanUK: Can somebody provide a list of what is and what isn’t acceptable to sing, also an excitable meter would be useful so we know when we have gone too far and need to reign it in a bit, and maybe a few signs up stating that no negative grumbles are allowed. Thanks in advance

@GlenHarris25: Least we can do is help him done a incredible job for us now it’s are turn to help COYR 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️

@MikeHoefling: if you want to blame anyone for the excitement around the club not there anymore, blame the aussie twat not us. regarding putting away fans in stratton bank, it’s only taken clem 5 years to do anything to it making it unusable but no he wants to put boxes in don rogers ffs 🙄