Bournemouth Sack Scott Parker Following Poor Start to Season

Bournemouth have sacked manager Scott Parker following a terrible start to the English Premier League season.

The club gained promotion to the topflight this season but after a 9-0 defeat by Liverpool, Parker has been shown the exit door.

It was Bournemouth’s third straight loss following their opening day 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium.

After the huge loss on Saturday, 41-year-old Parker said he was “not surprised.” He also stated the team was “ill-equipped at this level”.

“… Search for a New Coach Will Begin Immediately”

“In order for us to keep progressing as a team and a club as a whole, it is unconditional that we are aligned in our strategy to run the club sustainably,” said club owner Maxim Demin.

“That is the approach that has brought this club so much success in recent history. And one that we will not veer from now. Our search for a new head coach will begin immediately.”

The club confirmed that Gary O’Neil will take temporary charge of the team in the aftermath of Scott Parker’s sack. He is expected to be assisted by Shaun Cooper and Tommy Elphick.

Also Read: 2023 CHAN Qualifier: Salisu, Walker Optimistic Ahead Return Leg

Parker was appointed Bournemouth head coach on 28 June, 2021 after replacing Jonathan Woodgate. He led the team to promotion from the Championship as runners-up.

The former Fulham manager described his ordeal at the Anfield as a “humbling experience.” He said in his post-match press conference that the squad needed strengthening in order to compete well in the league.

He added: “This is the toughest day, as a player and certainly as a coach. The touchline was pretty painful and I could sense it was painful for the players as well. They need some help.

“It doesn’t surprise me. This is currently where it is at this moment in time. Today proved too big a challenge. The levels were far too big.”

Parker’s Comments Could Have Possibly Fast-tracked His Sack

Meanwhile, there is the possibility that Parker’s comments about the club’s hierarchy must have also fast-tracked his early sack.

This is not to say, in any way, that their start to the season has been good enough.

“We’ve got a decision to make as a club,” said Parker. “There will be days like this. Time will tell. It’s my job and it will be the defining of us as a group of how we bounce back from this.

“We have some days. Hopefully we can get some help in and support and help the current team who came up from the Championship.

“There’s loads of work to be done. The experience today, you never want to be on the end of this. This is currently where are are. If this is the group we’re going with we’ll react and see where are.”

Also Read: India 2022: Olowookere Invites Dah-Zossu, Ayantosho, 33 Others to Flamingos Camp

However, some are of the belief that Parker should have been given more time. They say this because he lost the three matches to teams among the best six in the top-flight. The Scott Parker sack comes on the eve of Bournemouth’s home league game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Parker is the sixth manager to lose his job after losing to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the Premier League. The other five are ​Francesco Guidolin (2016), Slaven Bilic (2017), Slavisa Jokanovic (2018), Jose Mourinho (2018) and Marco Silva (2019).