Don Goodman has provided an opinion regarding Scott Parker’s chances of becoming Sunderland’s head coach.
After Michael Beale was fired in February, the Black Cats are looking for a replacement.
Parker is among the options who have been mentioned in relation to leading the first team squad for the upcoming season, an appointment is not anticipated until the summer.
For the remainder of the campaign, Mike Dodds is in charge of the team.
Goodman questions Parker’s suitability to Sunderland
Goodman highlighted Parker’s promotions at Fulham and Bournemouth when praising Parker’s previous work as a Championship manager.
He questions, though, if Sunderland would be a good fit for the former midfield player given their philosophy and Parker’s history of grievances at other teams.
“Great pedigree in the Championship, promotions with Fulham via the playoffs,” said Goodman.
“[He] got Bournemouth automatically promoted before the outburst and that’s the outburst isn’t it? It’s the kind of outbursts that owners hierarchy, chief execs, directors of football, you name it. Those are the kinds of outbursts that they don’t sort of leave you, they don’t go away.
“And it cost him his job ultimately.
“So he was unhappy with the transfer policy at Fulham.
“Is he going to be happy with the Sunderland policy? He had a lot of experienced players at Fulham and at Bournemouth and he’s not going to be having that at Sunderland.
“Would Scott Parker be interested in the job? You would hope so, it’s a massive, massive club.
“Is it a project for Scott Parker, where you have no say on who really is being brought to the football club, they’re going to be young and untried, and your job is to develop them whilst molding them into a team that is going to challenge for a top six place.
“It’s a very, very difficult task.
“To me, looking at those parameters, I don’t think it’s a massively attractive job at the moment because I do think that you are working on the constraints that are going on or as a manager, as a head coach, they’re going to stop you.
“You’re only going to get so far, I think, under those constraints, and I don’t think that’s the kind of master plan that’s going get you to the Premier League, which of course is where everybody connected with Sunderland would want them to be.”
Compatibility will be essential for Sunderland
If the future head coach of Sunderland doesn’t share the club’s vision, things won’t go as planned.
With his expertise at this level, Parker would be a suitable fit if he is prepared to adhere to their idea of purchasing younger players, developing them, and selling them for a profit.
But it doesn’t seem like he would be willing to work under those conditions, so maybe it’s best to exclude him for the time being.
Sunderland may not be the best place for the 43-year-old unless they decide to go with a more conventional recruiting strategy.
