Holloway’s moan a loan

LOAN SHARK ... Holloway (right) has put the bite into Zola's Watford over loan tactics

IAN HOLLOWAY has told rival boss Gianfranco Zola: I’m glad my protests might hit you next season.

The Crystal Palace boss lit the fuse ahead of today’s Championship play-off final by slamming the way Watford signed EIGHT on-loan aces from Italian club Udinese.

Holloway, who first raised the issue in February, said: “I was shocked they were allowed to have eight players from one team and I’m very proud it’s not going to be allowed next season.

“And I don’t care what happens to Watford next year if they don’t go up.

“If I can’t say what I feel what’s the point of giving me vocal chords? Now I’m very glad the Football League have changed the rules.

“Watford have utilised their owners’ worldwide knowledge to take advantage. But I was very concerned if those laws continued in the Championship then how are any of our young English players going to get a game?”

Under current league rules, teams are only allowed to field five loan signings but that does not apply to foreign players.

Watford’s Italian owner Gino Pozzo has stakes in Udinese and Spanish club Granada and has used those connections to borrow 12 players this term.

They are also banned from signing any players until September due to ex-owner Laurence Bassini breaking FA third-party ownership rules over former striker Danny Graham.

That means, technically, they would be left with a squad of just 14 should they win promotion to the Premier League.