McParland Ready For Bolton Challenge

By Mark Heys
July 1 2007

Liverpool chief scout Frank McParland has officially left the Reds coaching staff this week and he is expected to be formally confirmed as the new General Manager of Bolton Wanderers in the coming days.

The 48-year old Liverpudlian is the man who team manager Sammy Lee wants to work alongside as he puts his own mark on the Trotters after succeeding Sam Allardyce in April.

McParland first joined Liverpool in 1994 as a youth coach alongside U-14's boss John Owens and in the 13 years that have passed since he has been influential in the development of many of the Reds future stars including Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and current Bolton loanee Danny Guthrie.

He worked under the management of Gerard Houllier as a scout and continued such a role upon the appointment of Rafa Benitez in the Anfield hotseat in the summer of 2004.

A former General manager of British Telecom, McParland left Liverpool's Melwood training complex for the last time on Friday with more than a hint of sadness but he was realishing the prospect of linking up with good friend Sammy Lee at Bolton.

Speaking to Liverpool's official website, McParland beleives he has made the correct decision.

"There was a lot of agonising over the decision. This (Melwood) is such a fabulous place to work, everything about it is brilliant and Friday was a very sad day, that's for sure mate.
 
"I could have stayed and continued as chief scout of Liverpool until I retire and that would have been great. For most people there couldn't be a better job but I'm ambitious to test myself in a more senior role and the offer to work with Sammy at Bolton was, for me, too good to turn down.

"I can honestly say I wouldn't have left had it not been for him. Bolton is the only club I would have gone to and that is solely because of Sammy. We are good friends but our friendship only goes back to when I started here at Liverpool.
 
"We think the same, share the same work ethic and generally like the same sort of things. So while I'm obviously sad to be leaving Liverpool, I'm made up at the fact that I'm going to be working with Sammy. He's a great young manager with all the necessary qualifications and experience. He's learned from the best and for him to approach me was a real honour."

McParland says that he is looking forward to his return to Anfield with the Bolton team at the start of December and will continue to look for the Reds results.

"Bolton versus Liverpool was the first game I looked for when the fixtures came out and December 1 is a date firmly pencilled in my diary. I had a bet with Sammy that we'd be back at Anfield on the first day but December will do and it's a day I'm already looking forward to.
 
"It'll be very difficult to take in to be honest. Ever since I was a kid I've gone to the match as a Liverpool supporter but now I'll find myself on the opposite side and my loyalty will obviously be with Bolton so it's going to be strange.
 
"I'll never stop being a Liverpool fan though and the first result I'll be looking for after a Bolton match will always be the Liverpool one. And that will never change."

The role of General Manager is one newly created by Sammy Lee to deal with off the field negotiations. It is the first time in the clubs history that such a role has been created but for a brief stint by Nat Lofthouse in the late 1960's and early 1970's.

WALKING DOWN THE MANNY ROAD WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME FRANK TO BOLTON WANDERERS