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Phil Parkinson does not want the result of tomorrow’s clash with MK Dons to be defined by how much his side miss Zach Clough.
Though disappointed that a “jewel in the crown” had to be hocked to settle some of the financial problems at the Macron Stadium, the Whites boss remains confident he has a squad capable of staying in the promotion race.
Chairman Ken Anderson had stated in public that the sale of young stars would not be sanctioned unless an extraordinary offer was received – citing a £10million price tag in his December question and answer session with fans.
But Nottingham Forest are believed to have paid less than £3million up front for the 21-year-old, who signed a four-and-a-half year deal at the City Ground on deadline day.
The club he left behind has never won at Stadium: mk and face a side rejuvenated under ex-Hearts boss Robbie Neilson, who picked up the pieces after the Dons’ relegation from the Championship.
Parkinson believes the challenge of adapting to ‘life after Zach’ is one that affects himself, his players and the supporters, and in a message sent to The Bolton News he urged everyone to get behind the team.
“We’ve said all along that Zach wasn’t going to go, so inevitably there is going to be some feeling about that – from all of us, not just the supporters,” he told us.
“First of all we have got to try and rectify it within the short space of time we had, which I think we did.
“Second thing is that we have got to work hard to integrate our new players.
“And third thing is that we have got to pull together, fans, staff, players, for the rest of the season to see if we can get to where we want to be. This is a huge challenge. The hard work starts here.”
Parkinson was able to add winger Felipe Morais to his squad yesterday and the former Bradford City man has been tipped to make his first start against the Dons.
Pacy front man Chris Long, from Burnley, dynamic winger Viv Solomon-Otabor from Birmingham City, and the fans’ favourite Adam Le Fondre, from Cardiff City, complete a new look squad heading south this afternoon.
Criticised for lacking tactical flexibility in defeat against Charlton Athletic, Parkinson has been thinking long and hard about the team he will pick tomorrow.
“I doubt MK Dons will be able to guess it because I don’t really know it myself yet,” he said.
“We need to get to know these new players quickly and make the right decisions on them – to filter them into the team at the right level. That’s the key.
“We have got options in attacking areas at it gives us that opportunity to change the team and keep that competition strong.
“Perhaps in the last few weeks the team has been picking itself, and that is a good thing for continuity but you also get a group of players who accept the team is doing well but also feel a bit frustrated. I think we had that.
“I can’t make too many changes or put too many players in who are not ready. We are probably coming up against a team that will be unchanged.
“That’s the challenge of being a manager.”
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Though disappointed that a “jewel in the crown” had to be hocked to settle some of the financial problems at the Macron Stadium, the Whites boss remains confident he has a squad capable of staying in the promotion race.
Chairman Ken Anderson had stated in public that the sale of young stars would not be sanctioned unless an extraordinary offer was received – citing a £10million price tag in his December question and answer session with fans.
But Nottingham Forest are believed to have paid less than £3million up front for the 21-year-old, who signed a four-and-a-half year deal at the City Ground on deadline day.
The club he left behind has never won at Stadium: mk and face a side rejuvenated under ex-Hearts boss Robbie Neilson, who picked up the pieces after the Dons’ relegation from the Championship.
Parkinson believes the challenge of adapting to ‘life after Zach’ is one that affects himself, his players and the supporters, and in a message sent to The Bolton News he urged everyone to get behind the team.
“We’ve said all along that Zach wasn’t going to go, so inevitably there is going to be some feeling about that – from all of us, not just the supporters,” he told us.
“First of all we have got to try and rectify it within the short space of time we had, which I think we did.
“Second thing is that we have got to work hard to integrate our new players.
“And third thing is that we have got to pull together, fans, staff, players, for the rest of the season to see if we can get to where we want to be. This is a huge challenge. The hard work starts here.”
Parkinson was able to add winger Felipe Morais to his squad yesterday and the former Bradford City man has been tipped to make his first start against the Dons.
Pacy front man Chris Long, from Burnley, dynamic winger Viv Solomon-Otabor from Birmingham City, and the fans’ favourite Adam Le Fondre, from Cardiff City, complete a new look squad heading south this afternoon.
Criticised for lacking tactical flexibility in defeat against Charlton Athletic, Parkinson has been thinking long and hard about the team he will pick tomorrow.
“I doubt MK Dons will be able to guess it because I don’t really know it myself yet,” he said.
“We need to get to know these new players quickly and make the right decisions on them – to filter them into the team at the right level. That’s the key.
“We have got options in attacking areas at it gives us that opportunity to change the team and keep that competition strong.
“Perhaps in the last few weeks the team has been picking itself, and that is a good thing for continuity but you also get a group of players who accept the team is doing well but also feel a bit frustrated. I think we had that.
“I can’t make too many changes or put too many players in who are not ready. We are probably coming up against a team that will be unchanged.
“That’s the challenge of being a manager.”
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