New signing Holohan delighted to be back with Paul Hurst at Boston United

The 34-year-old played for Hurst and assistnt Chris Doig at Grimsby Town and helped them to promotion to the EFL in 2022, a year after achieving the same feat with Hartlepool United.

Just released by Hartlepool after a second spell there, he was keen to quickly sort a deal at Boston and said: “This has been in the pipeline for a while after a few conversations with the gaffer.

“We actually had a conversation in January and it was close, so once the season ended it was something I wanted to get done as quickly as possible.

“I can now enjoy the summer and know where I am going to be next season.

“I can work hard over the summer and come back fully focused to hit the ground running and have a successful season at the club.

“He had spoken to me about the potential of the club and it is something I am excited to be a part of. So I am happy to get it done.

“We have had unbelievable times and memories together.

“Some of my best memories in football are playing under him and Chris.

“We kind of match up in our values and the demands and standards we set for ourselves. We are pretty aligned in that way.

“They are very ambitious and they demand a lot. I am very much like that for myself so I think that;'s why I have always had a good and honest relationship with them and I am excited to come back and play for them again.”

On his own attributes, he said: “I am a box to box midfielder. I like to get into the box and score goals – that is what I have done most of my career.

“But first and foremost I am hard-working and give my all for the team and the club.

“Coming towards the latter stage of my career, I can add that experience to the group as well.

“You have been there in certain situations, in this league especially, so it's about having that know-how of what it takes to get out of the league.

“Hopefully I can pass some of that down to the younger lads and help them get the best out of themselves. That is what I will be looking to do.

“I want to make an impact on the pitch but it's just as important to have that impact off the pitch as well and use my experience to be a bit of a leader for the group.”

The Kilkenny-born midfielder has high hopes of a good season ahead for Boston.

“I think it will be an open league next season – there won't be anybody getting 108 points like York or 106 like Rochdale,” he said.

“I think it will be a really competitive league.

“The gaffer and Doigy came in midway through last season and it wasn't any surprise to mne to see the upturn in form in the second half of the season as I know the demands they put on everyone. “They certainly didn't come in here to coast. They are ambitious which is one of the main reasons I wanted to come .

“A club like Boston has huge potential in this league to be in that conversation and in the mix for the play-offs at least.

“It is a top facility for the level and you probably won't get many better in the league. It has everything to be successful so there will be no excuses on that front.

“As players we have everything here to be successful so it's up to us to do the business xcome game days and get a bit of momentum and get the season off to a bit of a flyer once it kicks off.”

Holohan began his career as a youngster with Hull City, but returned to his native Ireland where he featured for League of Ireland sides Drogheda United, Cork City, Galway United and Waterford.

He joined Hartlepool United in 2019 and in 2021 he was part of their side that won promotion back to the Football League.

He repeated the success the following season with Grimsby under Hurst.

After leaving Grimsby in 2024, Holohan joined newly promoted EFL League One side Crawley Town, where he spent two years with before re-joining Hartlepool.