Ex-Cats defender Lynch opens up on what went wrong under Parkinson
Former Sunderland defender Joel Lynch has opened up about his Wearside spell and what went wrong under Phil Parkinson.
Lynch – who was released fromSunderlandlastsummer – is still a free agent and is looking for a new club, having had recent trial spells at Southend UnitedandBoltonWanderers.
Reflecting on his Sunderland spell under former boss Phil Parkinson, Lynch spoke openly about the break down intherelationship,claiminghe didn’tgetthesupporthefelthe needed at the time.
“Iwasgoingthroughatough time at Sunderland and I remember going to talk to him about it and he just didn’t give methesupportIneededoffthe pitch,” he told Football League World.
“We just didn’t get on and I thinkhethoughtIwasn’tbothered when in reality I was going through a tough time. I told himthatIwasn’tdoingtoogood mentally and I think he just took it the wrong way.
“I was just down at the time and I wasn’t happy with how I was playing. I’d just had a new babyandwasawayfromhome.”
Lynch has also revealed he has spoken with some of his former team-mates since Lee Johnson took charge with the squad very positive about the new head coach – and Sunderland’s
chances of success this season. Sunderland are in the play-off places and still have automatic promotion in their sightsthisseason,withtheclub alsoreachingthefinalofthePapa John’s Trophy.
He added: “I’ve spoken to a couple of the lads recently and they’ve said great stuff about him. But again, it’s just about the fact that it’s such a highpressured job, it’s literally win or nothing. They’re so desperatetogetbacktowheretheydeserve to be.
“The squad they have is much better than any of the other clubs in League One I think, and they need to get back to the Championship under the new manager because I don’t think the last manager [Phil Parkinson] was the guy to do it.”
*A joint bid from England, Scotland,Wales,NorthernIrelandandRepublicofIrelandto host the 2030 World Cup has received support from the UK Government, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying it is the “right time” to “bring football home”.
A feasibility study is under way and will continue before the formal bidding process begins next year. In an interview, the Prime Minister said: “We are very, very keen to bring football home in 2030. I do think it’s the right time.”