Bolton confirm Phil Parkinson as new manager

Bolton have confirmed Phil Parkinson as their new manager after agreeing a compensation package with his former club Bradford.

The League One clubs agreed a deal on Thursday for the 48-year-old, who was at Valley Parade for more than four years and led the Bantams to the play-offs last month.

He is now set for a new challenge as Neil Lennon's successor at the Macron Stadium after Lennon left the Trotters by mutual consent in March with the club 11 points from safety at the foot of the Championship.

Interim boss Jimmy Phillips could do nothing to prevent the slide into League One, leaving Parkinson with the task of restoring the club to English football's second tier. 

He has signed a two-year contract with the club and will be joined by assistant manager Steve Parkin in making the move to the North West.

Goalkeeping coach Lee Butler, head of sports performance Nick Allamby and head scout Tim Breacker will also make up the backroom team at Bolton.

"I'm very pleased to come on board. It's a fantastic challenge and it's one I'm really looking forward to and I can't wait to get started," he told the club's Youtube channel.

"I think for myself, personally, it was a fresh challenge.

"I've been at Bradford nearly five years and enjoyed every minute of that, but when the opportunity came to speak to Bolton I looked into it over the last week or so and just thought it's a club which has got the platform ready to go forward again. Hopefully I can play my part in achieving that."

After announcing Parkinson's departure on Friday afternoon, Edin Rahic, one of Bradford's new joint-owners, said: "Everyone at the club appreciates what Phil has achieved as manager of Bradford City.

"We wanted him to stay and work with us as new owners but he has decided to leave on his own terms.

"It was not our decision for him to go and it is only fair after such a long and successful time at the club we did not stand in his way to follow another opportunity.

"He will rightly be remembered as one of the club's most successful managers ever."