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Though his transfer plans remain hamstrung by embargo, Phil Parkinson can find plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future at Wanderers.
It is closing in on 600 days since the Football League implemented special transfer measures, triggering one of the most tumultuous spells in the club’s history.
Court cases, takeovers, boardroom battles, relegation, promotion and more than one flirtation with administration have all been packed into an 18-month rollercoaster ride.
Parkinson’s arrival last summer coincided with the upward turn. And as he goes through a second pre-season with his squad, this year swapping the functionality of Scandinavia with the brisk winds of the Scottish east coast, he insists progress is being made.
Wanderers have been unable to sign a player for a cash fee since 2015 – Filip Twardzik holding the dubious honour after swapping Celtic for the Macron for a small fee under Parkinson’s predecessor, Neil Lennon.
Since then it has been a case of scrapping for every addition.
Parkinson strengthened the core of a relegated team last year with players he knew could lead the club out of League One. This time, he is looking to add characters who feel they have something to prove at the higher level.
His playing budget is among the lowest in the division, and that embargo continues to keep some players out of reach – but typically, the Wanderers boss is just getting on with the job.
“Every manager at this stage of the season always wants more players in,” he said. “I’m no different but I think sometimes you have to be patient when you’re competing with other clubs.
“Anyone can sign players but sometimes you have to wait and get the best ones available in your budget, which in our case has been the free agents and loans.
“Obviously, the embargo restricts the numbers we can bring in. And we can’t pay fees.
“I know the supporters will say they have heard this many times before but the club is working extremely hard to rectify that situation. And I thinkn we have got to get on with it.
“Standing here today, I think the club is in a stronger position than it has been for quite a while.
“The quality of the squad, the work we’re doing on the training ground, the work the chairman and the board are doing behind the scenes to try and get this club back on a level playing field. It is happening.”
Looking at the millions being spent around the Championship so far this summer it is clear to see Wanderers are going to have their work cut out.
Parkinson hopes last season’s success will have a lasting effect but is looking to compensate in other ways, meaning his work on the training ground at St Andrews this week will be more important than ever.
“It’s going to be a challenge in the Championship, we know that,” he said. “We’re trying to get a profile of players who have something to prove. I don’t want people who are not going to give everything.
“We understand we’re not going to go into the Championship and start competing financially with the Aston Villas of this world. We’re not at that level.
“But I can get the players in and get them as fit as possible, as organised as possible, and make sure they have the right mentality. If that happens, hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves come the end of the season.”
Even in the land of free transfers and loan signings, the summer has not gone smoothly for Parkinson.
Forced to wait for West Ham pair Josh Cullen and Reece Burke, and abandon plans to sign Australia international Mark Milligan, there has been plenty to test the manager’s patience.
“I’m looking forward to the start of the season, there isn’t any nervousness.
“I think at the moment there’s maybe a bit of anxiousness – one minute you think you’ve got a player and the next minute something happens and you don’t,” he said.
“We have had a medical not quite go right or work permit issues. They are normal things in football over the summer and you just have to hold your nerve.
“We are looking forward to the new season. There is an excitement there for me, even after all these years in football.”
Source
It is closing in on 600 days since the Football League implemented special transfer measures, triggering one of the most tumultuous spells in the club’s history.
Court cases, takeovers, boardroom battles, relegation, promotion and more than one flirtation with administration have all been packed into an 18-month rollercoaster ride.
Parkinson’s arrival last summer coincided with the upward turn. And as he goes through a second pre-season with his squad, this year swapping the functionality of Scandinavia with the brisk winds of the Scottish east coast, he insists progress is being made.
Wanderers have been unable to sign a player for a cash fee since 2015 – Filip Twardzik holding the dubious honour after swapping Celtic for the Macron for a small fee under Parkinson’s predecessor, Neil Lennon.
Since then it has been a case of scrapping for every addition.
Parkinson strengthened the core of a relegated team last year with players he knew could lead the club out of League One. This time, he is looking to add characters who feel they have something to prove at the higher level.
His playing budget is among the lowest in the division, and that embargo continues to keep some players out of reach – but typically, the Wanderers boss is just getting on with the job.
“Every manager at this stage of the season always wants more players in,” he said. “I’m no different but I think sometimes you have to be patient when you’re competing with other clubs.
“Anyone can sign players but sometimes you have to wait and get the best ones available in your budget, which in our case has been the free agents and loans.
“Obviously, the embargo restricts the numbers we can bring in. And we can’t pay fees.
“I know the supporters will say they have heard this many times before but the club is working extremely hard to rectify that situation. And I thinkn we have got to get on with it.
“Standing here today, I think the club is in a stronger position than it has been for quite a while.
“The quality of the squad, the work we’re doing on the training ground, the work the chairman and the board are doing behind the scenes to try and get this club back on a level playing field. It is happening.”
Looking at the millions being spent around the Championship so far this summer it is clear to see Wanderers are going to have their work cut out.
Parkinson hopes last season’s success will have a lasting effect but is looking to compensate in other ways, meaning his work on the training ground at St Andrews this week will be more important than ever.
“It’s going to be a challenge in the Championship, we know that,” he said. “We’re trying to get a profile of players who have something to prove. I don’t want people who are not going to give everything.
“We understand we’re not going to go into the Championship and start competing financially with the Aston Villas of this world. We’re not at that level.
“But I can get the players in and get them as fit as possible, as organised as possible, and make sure they have the right mentality. If that happens, hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves come the end of the season.”
Even in the land of free transfers and loan signings, the summer has not gone smoothly for Parkinson.
Forced to wait for West Ham pair Josh Cullen and Reece Burke, and abandon plans to sign Australia international Mark Milligan, there has been plenty to test the manager’s patience.
“I’m looking forward to the start of the season, there isn’t any nervousness.
“I think at the moment there’s maybe a bit of anxiousness – one minute you think you’ve got a player and the next minute something happens and you don’t,” he said.
“We have had a medical not quite go right or work permit issues. They are normal things in football over the summer and you just have to hold your nerve.
“We are looking forward to the new season. There is an excitement there for me, even after all these years in football.”
Source
