Phil Parkinson has been labelled 19th among the most job secure managers in the EFL Championship. Wrexham fans already want him sacked, and thus will be smiling at this ranking.
The Championship’s fixture computer doesn’t talk, but you know it’s still questioning why it chose a separate day for the Welsh derby. Or maybe it was intentional, as the only bland game before a cracker matchday.
Take notes, Wrexham fans, Norwich drew to Preston, Blackburn got the better of Millwall, and Saints restricted Coventry to a 1-1 result. And us Dragons? Returned empty-handed after ruining a win in the last 30 minutes.
Well, a zero in the ‘W’ column is still forgivable, but a zero in the ‘entertainment’ column is a footballing crime. That’s why the fan upsurge against the bland Parky-ball feels probably the best post-game outcome Wrexham could’ve got.
No, don’t get me wrong. Having been a Wrexham fan for a long time now, I’ve been among the enthusiastic supporters of boss Parkinson’s vertical and direct play. Still, enough feels enough, as the gaffer’s overly rigid tactics hurt Wrexham these Championship days, unlike the old times.
Almost every Championship side now pinpointedly knows how to exploit Wrexham’s plan, and it’s showing week in and week out. And the results? All the same, with a late goal deciding Wrexham’s fate in a ‘D’ or an ‘L’.
The situation has escalated to a point where one would need the most opaque blindfold not to see the solution. End the good-long Parky era, and kickstart a new one with a shrewd Championship veteran, asap.
Well, celebrate our first win in the process, Wrexham fans. I know…. I know, the Hollywood owners are yet to give a verdict on this suggestion, but the mounting pressure is clearly doing the job.
As per Football League World’s recent report, Phil Parkinson’s job ranks as the 19th riskiest among the 24 Championship managers’ safety list.
Parky surprisingly nudges above Watford’s Javi Gracia
There’s no denying that Ollie Rathbone’s dying equaliser against Watford delayed “Phil Parkinson OUT” chants until the Welsh derby. But what it did to Javi Gracia’s safety remains less talked about.
That’s because, despite having put his side up more than Wrexham’s, Gracia is more likely to lose his job before Parkinson.
Agreed, the Hornets have had a legacy of managerial distrust, but still, the damage from that beautiful Rathbone volley can’t be overlooked. And for all the Dragons howling over the equaliser that day, they would be thinking if a loss would’ve bossed Parky out earlier.
However, as it stands, Phil Parkinson enjoys his safety status above Watford’s Javi Gracia, Blackburn’s Valerien Ismael, Sheffield Wednesday’s Henrik Pedersen, Baggies boss Ryan Mason and Portsmouth’s John Mousinho.
When will Wrexham sack Phil Parkinson?
Every Red Dragon’s fan deepdown knows that Parky’s time in the office remains limited. But the million-dollar question is, when can owners Rob & Ryan bid bye to the 58-year-old gaffer for a new start?
Long answer short, possibly anytime. Sounds strange, but unlike the majority of coaching contracts, Phil Parkinson and Wrexham are coupled in a 12-month rolling contract where either of the two parties can terminate it as and when they want.
So far, Wrexham’s back to back to back promotions have avoided both the owners and Parky from thinking over the termination clause. Yet, given the current conditions, a rigorous discussion is expected soon.
For context, Wrexham’s 5-game winless streak is so pathetically poor that only Sheffield Wednesday shake hands with them over this. Further realising that the Owls’ situation arises from a transfer ban and internal club chaos against Wrexham’s heavily funded transfer window says it all.
Historically as well as aesthetically, there hardly comes a better time than the New Year’s for a fresh start. Let’s hope we kickstart the January transfer window with a new gaffer and his new Championship plans.
