Phil Parkinson: Sunderland name ex-Bolton Wanderers boss as manager
- Published
Phil Parkinson guided Bolton to automatic promotion from League One in the 2016-17 season
New Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson says he wants to be the manager who "got the club up and running again" after being appointed on a contract until 2022.
The ex-Bolton and Bradford manager, 51, replaces Jack Ross, who was sacked on 8 October after winning five of their first 11 League One games this term.
Parkinson quit Bolton in August, with Wanderers bottom of the third tier after being deducted 12 points.
"It's a great opportunity to get this club going again," he said.
"I think everybody knows the expectations of a club of the stature of Sunderland is to get promoted. I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think I could achieve that.
"It's got to be the ambition - they wanted someone who's ambitious, achieved promotions before and know what it takes to get over the finishing line."
Sunderland, a Premier League club as recently as 2016-17, are in their second season in League One. They lost to Charlton in last season's play-off final.
Parkinson has achieved three promotions as a manager, including getting Bolton and Colchester up from League One, as well as guiding fourth-tier Bradford to the League Cup final in 2013.
He resigned as Bolton boss in August with Wanderers in deep financial trouble. The club had been in administration since May and started the season with just three contracted senior outfield players, with Parkinson leaving just before a takeover by Football Ventures was completed.
Asked if there were parallels between the Trotters and Sunderland, Parkinson said: "Yes, similar. Obviously Sunderland are quite a way ahead of where Bolton were when I took over in terms of the financial situation.
"I want to look back in a few years' time, if I'm still here or not, and say I was the manager who got this club (Sunderland) up and running again.
"These months are about assessing the squad and I'm sure if we need reinforcements to give us a boost, the board will give us their backing."
Parkinson is joined at the Stadium of Light by assistant Steve Parkin, with his first game in charge on Saturday against Wycombe - whose manager Gareth Ainsworth, it was reported, was also approached by Sunderland.
"During a rigorous recruitment process, it gradually became clear that he was the prime candidate to take the club forward," said Sunderland chairman Stewart Donald, who is in discussions over a takeover - or fresh investment - into the club.