AN MD80 FLC ENTERED A HOLDING PATTERN INCORRECTLY AND HAD TROUBLE REVERSING COURSE TO MATCH THE DIRECTION OF THE PUBLISHED PROC. THE CTLR HAD QUESTIONED THE FLC'S DIRECTION THEN; RECOGNIZING THE FLC'S FAILURE TO BECOME REORIENTED; ISSUED A NEW VECTOR CLRNC BACK ONTO THE ARR.

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WE WERE APCHING CONNY AT FL330 WHEN ATC ISSUED US HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS AS PUBLISHED; DSND TO FL290; EXPECT FURTHER CLRNC (XXOO). THE CAPT AND I REVIEWED THE HOLDING FIX AND HE CHKED OFF TO THE LAV. HE RETURNED MOMENTS BEFORE WE STARTED THE TURN. ATC ISSUED ANOTHER DSCNT AND I GLANCED DOWN AGAIN AT THE ARR. I MUST HAVE LOOKED AT THE PUBLISHED HOLDING PATTERN FURTHER DOWN TRACK; BECAUSE I BEGAN A L TURN AT CONNY. THE CAPT WAS FIGURING THE FUEL; TALKING TO ATC; PUTTING IN AN EXPECT FURTHER CLRNC; AND WATCHING ME. HALFWAY; ALMOST EXACTLY THROUGH THE L TURN; ATC CALLED AND ASKED IF WE KNEW IT WAS A R TURN PATTERN. WE ACKNOWLEDGED; BUT DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE L TURN FIGURING THAT A R REVERSAL TURN WOULD COMPOUND THE PROB. ATC CALLED BACK TO ASK AGAIN ABOUT THE L TURN. WE TOLD THEM WE WERE CORRECTING BACK TO THE HOLDING COURSE. ATC THEN GAVE US A VECTOR TO BUJ VOR; CANCELED THE HOLD AND TOLD US TO CONTINUE THE STAR. WE SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR A CORRECTION OR A PROPER RESOLUTION TO OUR MISTAKE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 335669: THERE WERE MULTIPLE XMISSIONS; CHANGES IN ALT AND HOLDING PATTERN LENGTH -- ALSO SPD CHANGES.