Pal Holloway is now a rival for Millwall boss Jackett

The Lions chief worked as assistant to the Bristolian for three years when he was in charge of Queens Park Rangers between 2001 and 2004.

He celebrated his fifth year in charge at The Den on Tuesday, while Holloway took charge of his first Eagles game after being installed as Dougie Freedman’s replacement at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

While Millwall played out a 0-0 bore draw at their manager’s home town of Watford, former Blackpool boss Holloway oversaw a 5-0 thrashing of Championship basement boys Ipswich to storm to the league’s summit.

Jackett revealed that he had congratulated his friend on his new appointment but admitted that they are now professional and local rivals.

He said: “I’ve wished him all the best and I hope it goes very well for him, personally as an individual and for his family. They are terrific people, all of them and they deserve success.

“Anybody that has met him or knows him knows he’s a terrific individual.

“That’s on a personal level. On a professional level we are in the same area and we are competing and we both understand that.”