SAM Allardyce insists he will always be his own man after claiming management is not a job for copy cats.

Allardyce has hailed Blackpool boss Ian Holloway ahead of Rovers’ trip to Bloomfield Road, claiming you have to do things your own way to succeed.

Comparisons have been drawn between the two, having both worked their way through the lower leagues to reach the Premier League, but Allardyce insists you have to be unique to be a manager.

He said: “I don’t see any comparisons between anyone.

“There is no other Sam Allardyce, there is just the one.

“There never has been and never will be another Sam Allardyce.

“Sam Allardyce doesn’t manage like anyone else.

“I am unique in my style of management and who I am and I was very fortunate to be working under some great managers as a player.

“They always told me never to copy anybody.

“You have to do it yourself and you have to do it your way and that will be the only way that you will be successful.

“Olly is the same. He is his own man and a very, very good manager. His start has been fantastic.

“I am sure he expected it wasn’t going to happen because he was faced with the situation he had to take his first three games away from home because the stadium wasn’t ready.”