Ian Holloway's message to Danny Cowley as Portsmouth prepare to name their new manager

That’s the verdict of former QPR and Blackpool boss Ian Holloway, who believes the expectation levels placed on the 42-year-old’s shoulders will be nothing he’s experienced before.

Ex-Lincoln and Huddersfield manager Cowley is expected to be confirmed as the new Blues boss today, following Kenny Jackett’s departure at the weekend.

He’ll be joined in the Fratton Park dugout by brother Nicky – his long-term assistant – with the duo agreeing to take charge of Pompey’s final 12 games of the season.

Their remit will be to salvage the club’s flagging season and secure a place in the end-of-term play-offs.

The Blues are currently 10th in the table but only three points behind sixth-placed Charlton.

Speaking on the latest EFL on Quest programme on Wednesday night, Holloway wished the duo – who started their managerial careers at Concord Rangers – well.

But he said a ‘big job’ awaits.

And despite guiding Huddersfield to Championship safety last term, he added the pressure will be on them from the start.

Holloway said: ‘It's going to be a big job for them, a big test for them.

‘The expectation at Portsmouth is much bigger than they've been at before. But good luck to them.’

‘Of course you would (take the job when looking at Pompey’s run-in).

'But you’d take the job because it's a big job, the expectation of the club.

'But they're not where they want to be and you've got to them them out of there.

'That's very different for the boys, so good luck to them.’

Cowley’s first game in charge will be the visit of Paul Cook’s Ipswich to Fratton Park on Saturday (1pm).

It’s then followed by games against sides no higher than 13th in the standings.

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