Parkinson to take the chair as Wanderers boss race reaches finishing line

For a few weeks the name of Phil Parkinson has lurked around the corridors of the Macron Stadium, an anomaly in the list of contenders for the vacant post as he was actually in a job.

Compensation never looked like something the Whites would look to pay in their perceived financial state, least of all when Ken Anderson came out and said the club definitely would not go down that road.

That comment had been sparked by an official statement from Bradford, made out of the blue, which claimed there had not been an official approach for Parkinson and that he was planning for life with the Bantams in League One.

No smoke without fire, we all thought, but once Anderson put himself on the record to say there was no chance Bolton would be forking out for a manager and his backroom, the story looked to have been put to bed.

In truth, they had caught wind a few weeks ago Parkinson’s future was unsteady and that Bradford’s new German ownership wanted a new man, Uwe Rosler in fact. That was enough to prick their interest but would it be enough to prompt them to part with their cash? And if so, how much?

When official interviews were held at the end of May, Parkinson was definitely under contract, which left Nigel Adkins, Steve Cotterill and Chris Powell free to discuss the post.

Another interviewee, who had cancelled his Monday meeting, is now understood to have been Alan Stubbs, who then went on to accept the manager’s job at Rotherham United.

The following Wednesday a fourth interview was held, presumably with Parkinson.

Powell moved to Derby County, chopping the list down to two. Wanderers’ owners Anderson and Dean Holdsworth confirmed right up to the last possible moment Adkins and Cotterill were in the frame, swatting away other options which attracted the bookies’ attention such as Ryan Giggs, Alex McLeish, Steve Evans or Brian McDermott.

Whether one of those two managers was primed on Monday to take the job we may never know, or rather it may never be admitted. Sources within the club tipped off a number of media outlets to say an appointment would be made and when it did not happen, the journalists were left to take the flak. This all happened at a time when Parkinson was away on holiday in Portugal.

As the week wore on, a Friday or Monday announcement was being advised. The club insisted they had agreed terms with their man but the deadlines had shifted on so many occasions it was hard to keep faith they would not do so again.

From there it became a global hunt at one point to find out the identity of the next manager, a succession of voicemail messages and foreign dialling tones.

Cotterill was – may still be – abroad, while little has been seen or heard of Adkins. Parkinson had been away but Bradford’s firm claim there had been no approach was enough to dampen the enthusiasm.

Both Anderson and Holdsworth were also away from the country. Fans wondered if the club would ever appoint a new man.

But then things started to fall into place. The Bolton News learned an appointment would be made on Friday and an email was sent out by the club yesterday lunchtime to confirm a press conference today.

By mid-afternoon the gossip was hot on either side of the Pennines and Parkinson was clearly on his way to the Macron.

Not only that, it appears Wanderers used his precarious situation at Valley Parade to their advantage, bartering a cut-price deal for the manager, his assistant Steve Parkin and a number of other back room staff.

Bantams fans are far from happy at losing the man who has steadily rejuvenated their club over the last five years, guiding them to a League Cup final and last season’s play-offs.

Wanderers supporters will be primarily glad the madness is over. Perhaps now they can talk about football again.