‘I WANT TO TURN THIS BIG SHIP AROUND’
Hungry Parky seeks to give Sunderland extra edge
The fanbase, the facilities – they’re way above the find division we ourselves in Phil Parkinson
NEW Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson says his players must take a leaf out of Liverpool’s book if they want to end a two-year stint in League One.
The Black Cats – whose demotion to the third tier in 2018 marked a second relegation in as many years – played some attractive stuff under former boss Jack Ross.
But a lack of end product and susceptibility to counter-attacks yielded far too many drawn games.
Already on a knife-edge following defeat to Charlton in last year’s play-off final, Ross was dismissed after a 2-0 defeat at Lincoln two weeks ago and it now falls to Parkinson to imbue a talented team with the necessary steel.
“Any manager coming into Sunderland has to have the ambition to get promoted,” says Parkinson, who left Bolton in August after three years at the helm.
“You’d have to be crazy not to have that target. But we’ve also got to remember that we have no divine right to win games at this level.
“We’ve got to earn every point, every win. That means adding some missing ingredients to what is already here.
“I’ve watched a lot of Sunderland matches in the last week, and what I’ve seen is that we have to make sure we do both sides of the game.
“If you look at successful teams, that’s what they do. Even at the very top. Manchester City, Liverpool – everybody loves the way they play. It’s great, and they score a lot of goals.
“But it wouldn’t be possible without the work ethic, discipline and all the off-the-ball stuff they do better than anybody else. That’s the balance we need to strike.”
Ross is not the first manager to find resurrecting Sunderland a task beyond his means. Both Simon Grayson and Chris Coleman – fresh from a Euro 2016 semi-final with Wales – were dismissed after dismal stints at the helm.
Combined with an owner in Stewart Donald who has demanded promotion this season, it would appear Parkinson has perched himself on one of the hottest seats in football. Wasn’t he at all worried?
“Listen, it’s well documented that Sunderland have gone through a lot of managers,” admits Parkinson who began his managerial career with Colchester in 2003 and has since guided both Bradford and Bolton to promotion.
“And they have had a lot of problems in terms of finances over the years. But the owners have got the club on an even keel and I just see a great platform to take the club forward.
“I’ve got to be confident that I can come here, get it right and get this club back to where it belongs, which is the top level of English football.
Unity
“I want to look back in years to come – whether I’m still here or not – and say that I was the manager who came aboard and got this big ship turned around.”
And to do that, he has called on everyone – from the cooks in the canteen to the players on the pitch – to unite behind the club.
“Sunderland is a huge club,” he says. “The fanbase, the facilities – they’re way above the division we find ourselves in. What it needs is everybody onside.
“I’ve only been here a day, but all the people working at the training ground are real, passionate Sunderland fans, who are absolutely determined to help their club get back to where it belongs.
“That’s where it all starts. You’ve got to include everybody at the club in what you’re doing, because a club needs them all to prosper. It’s fostering that group mentality, asking everybody to do that bit more – including the players.”