Holland up for fight at Southport

By Pete Oliver

Holland is determined to get out of the bottom four

With a CV boasting Premiership football and England Under-21 honours, a relegation scrap at the bottom of the Conference might be unwelcome territory.

But not for recent Southport recruit Chris Holland, who is immersing himself in the challenge and still playing for a future in the game.

Holland's top-flight career was played out briefly under Kevin Keegan at Newcastle, where he also earned recognition at international level.

A nasty eye injury limited his appearances at St James's Park and moves followed to Birmingham City, Huddersfield and Boston United.

Then at the end of January, Holland moved out of the League to join Southport's fight for Conference survival.

"It was a big step but I was not doing anything at Boston," Holland told BBC Sport.

"If I was playing I was playing out of position and just filling in holes.

"I was out of contract in the summer and if I was going to do anything else I had to be playing in the middle of the park and playing until the end of the season so people knew I was still around."

Not that Holland has joined Port just to put himself in the shop window.

If we finish fifth from bottom this season that will do me Chris Holland

Since he signed for Peter Davenport's side, the Sandgrounders have put together a four-match unbeaten run with two wins and two draws.

And Holland has every incentive to help them beat the drop.

"I have got the option to stay for another year," added the 31-year-old Lancastrian, who started his career at nearby Preston.

"A lot depends on what happens but if we do stay up I would like to stay. If I'm not in the League, I'm not in the League.

"I was travelling 150 miles to Boston and it was getting hard work. Now I am just 45 minutes away and I am enjoying my football.

"We have got a second child due in May and I have got to be at home for that so the main thing was to be in the north-west.

"If we stay can stay up this season I think with a pre-season together and a few extra players we have got a chance of doing something next year.

Holland won England under-21 international honours in 1996

"But first things first and my only aim is to get out of that bottom four. It's just about that. If we finish fifth from bottom this season that will do me."

Holland almost joined Southport towards the end of last year but complications at Boston, where he spent almost three years, delayed the deal.

Paul Cook was then sacked as manager by the Conference club but Davenport revived the deal during the transfer window and has been delighted with the impact Holland has made in the centre of Port's midfield.

For Holland himself, the adjustment to life in the Conference has been straightforward.

If we do stay up I would like to stay Chris Holland

"I just go out and play the same way as I have always done, whether that's in the Premiership, Championship or the Conference," he said.

"In the League they used to train a lot more - but now the Conference is nearly full-time, there is not a lot of difference between League Two and the Conference.

"I am playing with a bunch of lads who have played at a decent level and who are playing some good football."

Southport's recent revival will face a major test over the coming week with their next two fixtures against the Conference's top two, Dagenham & Redbridge and then Oxford United, at Haig Avenue.

But from what Holland has seen, he believes Port have enough about them to continue their climb away from the foot of the table and further the development which started with a switch to full-time football last summer.

It was a big step to move but I was not doing anything at Boston Chris Holland

He said: "We have got two tough games against the top two teams. But from what I have been told we tend to perform well against the top teams and our home form has been good.

"If we can get something out of those two games we will be pushing to get out of the bottom four. And if we can do that sooner rather than later I think we can stay out of it."

Holland added: "I think there is a good chance of getting out of the situation we are in. There is a bit of confidence and all the players believe we can do it.

"A few teams around us have games in hand but they have got to win them.

"We have been in there for a while but we are picking up points and going for it. Other teams have been drawn into it and they might be feeling a bit of pressure."