AFTER more than a century of appearances for Rangers, Jason Holt is relishing a new challenge in England’s third tier.

The Musselburgh-born midfielder swapped Ibrox for Highbury in pre-season and has become a key figure in Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town side.

Holt said: “I have really enjoyed it here since day one.

“The manager is in his first job and new to this kind of role but he has been really good.

“Speaking for myself and the rest of the players, I have really enjoyed working under him.

“Even the pre-season trip away to Hungary was really good.”

The Cod Army sit tenth in the League One table having taken 13 points from a possible 27.

It is a league made up of big teams, with no fewer than eight former Premier League sides.

That includes Bradford City, who Holt and his team defeated 2-1 earlier this month, to record their first home win of the season.

Holt said: “There are probably a few teams in this division that should probably be or see themselves in the league above and have been in the Premier League not that long ago.

“For a player, it is great to play in these games against these teams and I think that is going to be good.

“It is an experience for myself as well, coming down and getting to play at places like the Stadium of Light.

“For me, coming down here, it is a new challenge.

“I have played in the league before with Sheffield United and been to some of the grounds before but some are new to me in the league as well.”

Against Crewe, the 25-year-old also grabbed his first goal for the Lancashire club, who host local rivals – and former Premier League side – Blackpool next month.

The quick-paced nature of the League One season, which sees teams play a minimum of 46 games, means Holt and his team-mates do not have long to wait for their next match, which sees them host Barnsley – another former Premier League side – on Saturday, before they welcome Wycombe Wanderers to Highbury on Tuesday evening.

“Even the past couple of weeks recently, it has been Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday or Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday,” the midfielder told Courier Sport.

He added: “Games come thick and fast and it is great to play so many games.”

Holt, who still has family in the Honest Toun, was a member of Musselburgh Windsor as a youngster before going on to make his name with Hearts.

Loan spells at Raith Rovers and Sheffield United followed before he made the switch to Rangers and ahead of the new campaign he signed a season-long loan deal with Fleetwood.

The former Pinkie Primary School and Musselburgh Grammar School pupil described the season as “relentless”.

He added: “To be fair, I don’t get back to Musselburgh as much as I would like but I do when I can.

“I have still got family and friends there and every opportunity I try to get back and visit.”