Phil Parkinson is a man “who gets the job done,” according to his former Bradford chairman, so Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney can rely on him.
Consequently, what happened?
The seasoned coach at SToK Racecourse is having the hardest time of his career in North Wales after suffering four straight losses across all competitions. The Red Dragons’ run of defeats has seen them eliminated from both the FA Cup and the automatic promotion spots in League Two.
RHODES’ COMMENTS ON PARKINSON
Parkinson, who took over at Bradford in 2011–12 when the Bantams were fighting to stay in the Football League, has experienced such difficulties in the past. Additionally, according to Julian Rhodes, who previously worked at Valley Parade with the current manager of Wrexham, “We set Phil just one target when he got the job—to keep us in the Football League that first season.” Bradford in the National League, with all the overheads we had then (about £1.2 million annually in electricity, rent, and rates), we would have had a major issue. Really, oblivion. Phil was grateful for all of that, but he was unfazed. Under duress, he was always so incredibly composed. It was a major factor in why we
THE LARGER IMAGE
In 2013, Parkinson kept Bradford out of harm’s way and led them to the League Cup final. He would go on to manage a famous FA Cup victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and a promotion into League One. Rhodes continues to be the ideal man for the job at Wrexham, saying, “Phil quickly realised how big the job of keeping us in the league was.” We had been seated thus close to the table’s foot for an awfully long time. I’ve lost count of how many crisis meetings we had that season, with the management and the board, all in an attempt to figure out how to get out of the jam we were in.
“Phil never permitted any of it to turn into a drama involving the players or the team. He’s one of those people who, when things go wrong, never goes too low and, when things go right, never goes too high. He simply carries out his work, shutting out the outer world. ideal for Wrexham in their quest for a second promotion, as well as ideal for Bradford City. He is a manager who just completes tasks.
FUTURE PLANS FOR WREXHAM?
After Arthur Okonkwo saved an earlier penalty, Bradford secured a last-minute victory in that match, condemning Wrexham to their most recent defeat. The Red Dragons, who now occupy the fifth spot in the fourth-tier standings, will return to play on Tuesday when they visit Sutton United.
