If the speculation is to be believed, Sunderland are close to making a managerial appointment, and if local journalist Scott Wilson’s latest tweets are anything to go by, former Bolton Wanderers boss Phil Parkinson is the likely successor to Jack Ross.
Wilson is the chief sports writer for the Northern Echo, and he’s just posted two tweets defending Parkinson’s possible appointment as a tried and trusted choice.
With strong links to the club, Wilson’s tweets could be the biggest clue yet on who will be the new boss at the Stadium of Light, with the journalist making it clear he prefered Parkinson over the other name in the frame, Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth.
https://twitter.com/Scottwilsonecho/status/1184069386795147266?s=20
Parkinson does have a good track record of winning promotion from League One having achieved the feat with Colchester United and most recently with Bolton. He also took Bradford City to a Wembley final and won them promotion from League Two. He’s taken charge of more than seven hundred Football League matches in his career and dealt with difficult financial situations at Bradford and Bolton. He’s been out of work since leaving the University of Bolton Stadium amid the Trotters financial meltdown at the end of last season meaning Sunderland would avoid paying compensation for his services.
https://twitter.com/Scottwilsonecho/status/1184070047150551040?s=20
With such a large and opinionated fanbase, the board were always on a hiding to nothing with some supporters, and despite his record, Parkinson is not firing the imagination of many fans who coveted a more prominent name taking the reins. Some fans feel the potential appointment shows a lack of ambition from the club with many believing Parkinson would be no better than the man they had just sacked.
The reaction to him possibly taking charge was mixed at best when supporters took to social media to reply to the journalist’s latest tweets, illustrated by the following selection of responses.
https://twitter.com/brownh1989/status/1184071864433479680?s=20
https://twitter.com/walke2l/status/1184078914924306432?s=20
https://twitter.com/JamesJamesox/status/1184070096467189760?s=20
https://twitter.com/bywater_paul/status/1184075036216483840?s=20
https://twitter.com/mpauldavidson/status/1184080167888674816?s=20
https://twitter.com/Grimmyy33/status/1184089632415408128?s=20
https://twitter.com/OfficialMartyn/status/1184083436509814784?s=20
https://twitter.com/bedethree/status/1184075424231493632?s=20
https://twitter.com/OfficialMartyn/status/1184083436509814784?s=20
https://twitter.com/Zak34552323/status/1184077814796083200?s=20
Get over yourselves. When are you going to realise that we’re a lowly League One Club albeit with aspirations.
SD must be frustrated with all the negativity, you wanted rid of Jack Ross & got your wish now shut the f**k up & support your team instead of bleating on like a bunch of f*****g mags!!!!!!!