Bolton manager Phil Parkinson resigns amid chaos at League One club
Phil Parkinson has resigned from his position as Bolton Wanderers first team manager.
The former Bradford City boss has left alongside his assistant Steve Parkin, with the troubled club sitting second from bottom in League One.
Wanderers have been in administration since May and in a statement released today the club accepted Parkinson’s resignation ‘with great reluctance’. Academy boss Jimmy Phillips has been put in interim charge of the team.
A club spokesperson said: "During what has been one of the most challenging periods in the club's existence, both Phil and Steve conducted themselves with the utmost professionalism and dignity throughout.
“They leave the University of Bolton Stadium with their heads held high."
Parkinson joined three years ago with the team in League One, before winning promotion to The Championship in his first season.
They subsequently survived relegation in their first season before finally dropping back down to League One amid financial difficulty.
Over the course of last season players went on strike - with some not being paid for five months - and matches were subsequently postponed, while entering administration ensured that they began the 2019/20 season with a 12-point deduction.
Having started this year’s campaign with just seven registered players, the team have relied on academy players, drawing one game and losing two.
Only Bury - who were handed the same points deduction for their own financial turmoil - sit below them in the table, having not been able to play a single game thus far.
Parkinson’s last game in charge of the club was a 5-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers, leading to his decision to contact the English Football League about welfare concerns that he had for the young players he was effectively being forced to select.
After playing their first three games, Bolton’s fixture against Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday was postponed as a result of those concerns raised with the EFL.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Parkinson said: "Honestly, it's just unacceptable. This is Bolton Wanderers Football Club, a fantastic club with a great history, and we need a bit of help. If it's not going to be sold, we need to be able to bring some players in.
"No new players in, no sign of the deal getting done, there's signs of people out there wanting to buy the club but still no sign of it going over the line."
In April of this year, former Watford owner Laurance Bassini, who was handed a three year ban from football in 2013, agreed a deal to buy Bolton, although it subsequently fell through when Bassini failed to provide proof of funds.
When Bassini was awarded a court order blocking the takeover of the club by Football Ventures earlier this month, Parkinson pleaded with the businessman to "leave the club alone".
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