New manager on his reasons for joining and the size of the job ahead
New Bolton Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson says he is under no illusions at the size of the task ahead.
Chorley-born Parkinson was officially appointed as the club’s new manager on Friday, after Wanderers agreed a compensation package with fellow Sky Bet League One club Bradford City.
And speaking in his first official press conference as manager, Parkinson said the appeal of a new challenge at Macron Stadium is what swayed him to make the move after five years at helm at Valley Parade.
“I’m very pleased to come on board,” Parkinson said. “It’s a fantastic challenge, but one I’m really looking forward to.
“Personally, I feel this is a fresh challenge. I have been at Bradford for five years and enjoyed every minute of that, but when the opportunity came up to speak to Bolton I saw it as a club that have a fantastic platform to go forward again.
“The new owners at Bradford have been terrific and have handled this move professionally.
“For me, life is all about taking on challenges and this certainly is a tough one. That said, it’s one my staff and I are relishing and we can’t wait to get going.
“It didn’t take much of a sell from Ken Anderson and Dean Holdsworth. I’ve had a real good chat with them both and there are certainly plans in place to move the club forward. It sounds like a lot of the past problems are now in hand.
The Bolton Wanderers players are set to return to pre-season training in around two weeks, with a trip to Scandinavia also lined up ahead of the start of the Sky Bet League One season.
And Parkinson was quick to highlight his belief that work between now and season’s opener on August 6 will prove key if Wanderers are to make an immediate return to the second tier.
He added: “Every manager at the start of the season wants to be at the top of the league 12 months down the line. I’m no different, but before making any predictions or setting expectations, I need to see what squad we end up with when the transfer window closes.
“There’s a lot of work to be done. Some players may leave and hopefully we’ll be able to bring a lot of players in. We’ve got to work exceptionally hard alongside the board to build a squad that our supporters can be proud of.
“I know what it takes and the characteristics required to be at the top end of this division. We’re going to be working very hard to drill that in to our players.
“It’s an exciting challenge. I’ll be giving absolutely everything to put a smile on peoples’ faces, not just the supporters, but people who work for the club.”