Steve Parkin
Encyclopedia
Stephen John "Steve" Parkin (born 7 November 1965 in Mansfield
, England
) is an English
former footballer
and manager
, currently working as assistant manager at Bradford City
.
at the start of the 1996–97 season after Andy King was sacked. Parkin, only 30 at the time, and club captain, took over as a caretaker manager, but went to last three seasons with the Stags, missing out closely on the play-offs in two of his three seasons. Parkin left Mansfield after his position became untenable due to a transfer embargo on the Nottinghamshire
club, and joined Rochdale in the summer before the 1999–2000 season.
and Clive Platt
.
who made him manager. Rochdale eventually missed out on promotion by losing in the play-off semi-final in May 2002.
Parkin's spell at Barnsley was not a productive or a successful one. Barnsley were in the relegation place at the time of his take over in Division 1
and with a prohibitive transfer budget, Parkin could not stop the rot and Barnsley were relegated in April 2002. With debt-ridden Barnsley struggling to stave off a second successive relegation, on 15 October 2002, the club went into administration and Parkin along with his assistant Tony Ford both lost their jobs.
Parkin did not find a managerial position for 14 months after his departure from Barnsley. He became assistant manager at Notts County
shortly after his sacking.
. His first duty was to save Rochdale from relegation that season, which he did with a few games to spare, adding talent such as Grant Holt
to the ranks, although Rochdale's final position was lower than when he took over. His second season in his new (old) job saw Dale nearly reach the play-offs, but stumble late in the season. In the 2005–06 season, Parkin guided the club to what many saw as a backward step, only narrowly avoiding relegation.
Both Parkin and Dale were under an increasingly significant amount of pressure following a poor start to the 2006–07 League Two season, which saw Rochdale gain only 6 points from 8 matches. During the course of the season Dale lost arguably one of their best players of recent years. Rickie Lambert
, an Attacking Midfielder/Striker who was sold to Bristol Rovers
for £200,000 on transfer deadline day in August 2006. Parkin's position became untenable and he was sacked shortly before Christmas.
side . He helped the Tigers to their first ever promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and was cited—along with manager Phil Brown and assistant Brian Horton
—by manager Sir Alex Ferguson
as one of the key components of Hull's success.
On 15 March 2010 he took over as joint caretaker manager with Brian Horton
after Phil Brown was put on gardening leave.
In June 2010 Nigel Pearson
was appointed at the full time successor to Phil Brown, and opted to bring his own backroom staff with him from his previous position at Leicester City, bringing to an end Parkin's association with the club.
at Scunthorpe United
.
as assistant manager on 22 September 2011.
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, currently working as assistant manager at Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
.
Mansfield Town
Parkin started his managerial career at Mansfield TownMansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
at the start of the 1996–97 season after Andy King was sacked. Parkin, only 30 at the time, and club captain, took over as a caretaker manager, but went to last three seasons with the Stags, missing out closely on the play-offs in two of his three seasons. Parkin left Mansfield after his position became untenable due to a transfer embargo on the Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
club, and joined Rochdale in the summer before the 1999–2000 season.
Rochdale
Parkin's first spell at Rochdale was a great success, and he lifted the Lancashire club from the depths of the league to an 8th place finish in his first season. The team's success paved the way for big money signings like Paul ConnorPaul Connor (footballer)
Paul Connor is an English footballer who is currently playing for Gainsborough Trinity.-Career:He was signed by Middlesbrough straight after he left school...
and Clive Platt
Clive Platt
Clive Linton Platt is an English footballer, currently playing for Coventry City, having previously played for Peterborough United, Notts County, Rochdale, Walsall, Milton Keynes Dons and Colchester United....
.
Barnsley
On 9 November 2001 Parkin was attracted to a bigger club in the form of Barnsley F.C.Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
who made him manager. Rochdale eventually missed out on promotion by losing in the play-off semi-final in May 2002.
Parkin's spell at Barnsley was not a productive or a successful one. Barnsley were in the relegation place at the time of his take over in Division 1
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
and with a prohibitive transfer budget, Parkin could not stop the rot and Barnsley were relegated in April 2002. With debt-ridden Barnsley struggling to stave off a second successive relegation, on 15 October 2002, the club went into administration and Parkin along with his assistant Tony Ford both lost their jobs.
Parkin did not find a managerial position for 14 months after his departure from Barnsley. He became assistant manager at Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
shortly after his sacking.
Return to Rochdale
In December 2003, Parkin went back to his former job at Rochdale, where Ford had already been re-employed as assistant-manager to Parkin's predecessor Alan BuckleyAlan Buckley
Alan Peter Buckley is an English football manager. He was manager of League Two side Grimsby Town until his dismissal in September 2008...
. His first duty was to save Rochdale from relegation that season, which he did with a few games to spare, adding talent such as Grant Holt
Grant Holt
Grant Holt is an English footballer, currently playing in the Premier League for Norwich City. He plays as a striker and is club captain....
to the ranks, although Rochdale's final position was lower than when he took over. His second season in his new (old) job saw Dale nearly reach the play-offs, but stumble late in the season. In the 2005–06 season, Parkin guided the club to what many saw as a backward step, only narrowly avoiding relegation.
Both Parkin and Dale were under an increasingly significant amount of pressure following a poor start to the 2006–07 League Two season, which saw Rochdale gain only 6 points from 8 matches. During the course of the season Dale lost arguably one of their best players of recent years. Rickie Lambert
Rickie Lambert
Rickie Lee Lambert is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Southampton. Born in Fazakerley, Liverpool, Lambert began his professional career with Blackpool in 1998 and later played for Macclesfield Town, Stockport County, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers before moving to Southampton for...
, an Attacking Midfielder/Striker who was sold to Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
for £200,000 on transfer deadline day in August 2006. Parkin's position became untenable and he was sacked shortly before Christmas.
Hull City
In January 2007 he was installed as the first team coach for ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side . He helped the Tigers to their first ever promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and was cited—along with manager Phil Brown and assistant Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
—by manager Sir Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
as one of the key components of Hull's success.
On 15 March 2010 he took over as joint caretaker manager with Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
after Phil Brown was put on gardening leave.
In June 2010 Nigel Pearson
Nigel Pearson
Nigel Graham Pearson is an English football manager and former professional player. He is currently in his second spell as manager of Leicester City, having previously managed Hull City, Southampton and Carlisle United, and been assistant manager for England Under-21s and Newcastle United...
was appointed at the full time successor to Phil Brown, and opted to bring his own backroom staff with him from his previous position at Leicester City, bringing to an end Parkin's association with the club.
Scunthorpe United
On 6 October 2010, it was announced that Parkin would be swapping the north for the south bank of the Humber, joining newly appointed manager Ian BaracloughIan Baraclough
Ian Robert Baraclough is a former English professional footballer who was most recently the manager of Scunthorpe United, where he notably appeared as a player between 2004 and 2008...
at Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
.
Bradford City
Parkin joined Bradford CityBradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
as assistant manager on 22 September 2011.