One of Fulham’s favourite sons rises again

RELEGATION CLOUDS CLEARING AS PARKER’S PLAN FOR QUICK PREM RETURN TAKES SHAPE

SCOTT PARKER admits he has been through a crash course in management during his first year in charge at Fulham.

And the boss believes his biggest success since succeeding Claudio Ranieri last February has been reviving a promotion-winning mentality after a painful exit from the Premier League.

The Cottagers were a relegation waiting to happen when the former England midfielder was handed the reins as caretaker-boss.

He did enough to land the job full-time in May – and has steered Fulham to within sight of automatic promotion ahead of today’s trip to Blackburn.

There have been bumps in the road, but the 39-year-old believes he has shaken off the lingering effects of the drop to set the club on course for an immediate Premier League return.

Parker said: “I’ve seen the full range of different scenarios. When I took over, morale was down, the club was distant from everyone, we were losing matches, and it wasn’t the best of campaigns.

“Trying to get that back on track... trying to get a real togetherness and create a bit of an identity about us was key.

“Coming into this season, you still have the scars of last term. And all of a sudden, in a short space of time, we’re expected to win the league and win matches when we are used to losing most.

“But I’m pleased with where we are now.”

The Fulham midfield hero reckons he saw more signs of progress during last weekend’s win over

Huddersfield, despite his side almost throwing away a three-goal lead. And the manager was convinced they would not have held on for the win earlier in the season.

He said: “There was some big learning coming out of last week in that you can’t take liberties in this league.”

Today’s trip to Ewood Park allows the Cottagers boss to rekindle a friendship with Rovers manager Tony Mowbray.

Parker added: “I know Tony really well. I met him when I was getting married in Barbados.

“He first saw me as a 20-year-old getting married to my wife and we are now four kids down the line. How time moves on.”

GREAT SCOTT Parker is proud of the work he has done this season as Fulham fight for promotion