A Look At… Phil Parkinson

By Matthew Grant
May 14 2004

Phil Parkinson has had a good first full season as Colchester United so we have looked in details at the successes and the future for the former Royal.

A Look At.....Phil Parkinson

 

'Parky' finished his first full season as manager of Colchester United recently and here at 1871Royals.co.uk we decided to have a look closely how he has transformed the fortunes of The U's. 

Phil Parkinson took over as manager of Colchester United in February 2003 with the club starring down the barrel at Division 3 football but Parkinson managed to save them from the drop and by a far distance in his first ever experience of Football management.

This season, in his first full season as manager there has been no worries of relegation as United finished safely in 11th place with Parkinson claiming it to be "a first class season' I'm sure Parkinson will be looking to build on it to get the club into the Play Off's the next season. He also won the 'Manager Of The Month Award' this season in September and also won it in his first full month as manager in the 2002/03 season in March.

There has been interest from other clubs with Parkinson one of the favourites for the Palace job before Iain Dowie was given the role. Though there is every chance that with the mass exodus of managers every season throughout the leagues, Parkinson may once again be linked with a move away from Layer Road. With no disrespect to Colchester United but I am sure 'Parky' would want to test his skills at the highest level and he may find that hard to emulate at Colchester. There has been suggestions that he will be a future manager of Reading FC and certainly amongst the fans, it will be a welcome return for a Royals great.

Colchester are though set for a move to a new stadium, which is only a few years away and so the situation at Colchester United is certainly on the up. There have been many highs for Parkinson this season with some excellent results against the teams are the top end of the league, he has taking his qualities as a football player and passed it on to his players, which has been clearly evident in many of their performances this season. 

So what next for Parkinson, well next season he and his team will be looking to push for the Play Offs and with a new stadium on the horizon, it does look like a bright future for Colchester United. Its great to see a formal Royal doing so well and I will be every pleased to see Parkinson managing the Royals in the years to come not that I would not be pleased to keep the current staff at this moment in time.

I'm sure every Reading fan would like to wish Phil Parkinson all the best for the future in management and hopefully see him return to the Madejski Stadium as manager of Reading in the future or with a rival team.

Special thanks to the Official Colchester United Website for letting us use the pictures