Phil Parkinson has been told that his Premier League dreams with Wrexham won’t happen during his managerial reign, with former Sunderland star Aiden McGeady claiming that the Red Dragons manager is only a League One-standard manager.
Parkinson, who managed McGeady at the Stadium of Light, took Wrexham into the Championship just over a year ago by finishing on 92 points in the third-tier, marking three consecutive promotions.
He almost dragged Wrexham to the play-offs last season but missed out on the final day.
It has been a less than desirable start for the club this season, with Wrexham sitting in 19th and bearing just one win to their name, prompting rumours that Parkinson may be on his way out.
And whilst some are of the opinion that he should remain in the hotseat, McGeady – who famously had spats with Parkinson for putting him into the Under-23s on Wearside – has gone the opposite way, suggesting he hasn’t got the bottle to take them up.
McGeady: “Parkinson is not a Championship manager”
Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds, McGeady said: “Wrexham came close to the play-offs last season, but my thoughts are that Phil Parkinson is the manager there and I don’t think Phil Parkinson is a Championship manager.
“He might have proved me wrong last season where the club did well and then almost got to the play-offs, but they’re paying lads a lot of money and he had far too good a squad for League One when they went up because the owners were putting so much in money.
“He had a really good squad for the Championship as well, just missed out. I had him at Sunderland.
“I don’t think he will be the man to lead Wrexham to the Premier League. I think this is probably his ceiling.”
No track record in Championship football
Parkinson has proven as much throughout his career. He took Colchester United up in 2006, before moving to Charlton, where they suffered relegation to League One for the first time in almost three decades.
And, despite a famous League Cup run where he took then-League Two side Bradford City to the final with giant killings along the way, he won promotion to the Championship again with Bolton Wanderers.
He stayed in the second tier for the first time in his managerial career on the final day, but they went down, largely due to financial constraints.
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