The Royals Want Ex-Player Phil Parkinson As New Boss
Former Bradford City and current Bolton Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson is the bookmakers’ favourite for the vacant managerial job at Reading Football Club. The Wanderers boss is now evens with some companies after previous front-runner Luis Castro decided to stay with Portuguese Primera Division outfit Vitoria de Guimaraes.
Parkinson was a big favourite with the Reading fans making more than 400 appearances for the Royals over an 11-year spell as a player. Sources close to the club say Nigel Howe who recently returned as chief executive, has made Parkinson a prominent name in a ten man shortlist presented to Reading’s Chinese ownership.
Other names have also been linked with succeeding Paul Clements who was sacked on the 6th December, such as Steve Bruce, Slavisa Jokanovic, Martin O’Neill, David Moyes and Gareth Ainsworth. Some reports suggest Reading want to make an appointment quickly and are confident they can have someone in place by the time they face Rotherham United on Saturday.
Parkinson, who took charge of his 126th Bolton Wanderers game at Norwich City on Saturday, which makes him the longest-serving manager at the club since Sam Allardyce resigned in 2007. However his contractual situation with Wanderers would mean compensation is due and a quick deal could be complicated.
Speaking last week Phil Parkinson said, “I’am trying to focus on my job here at the University of Bolton Stadium. I’ve literally only just found out about it, and it’s a shame that Paul is no longer the manager at Reading, but I am concentrating on Bolton Wanderers and the match this weekend.”
Chadwick Media 