AFC Bournemouth’s new head coach, Scott Parker, spoke to the media for the first time since his appointment last Monday and is looking to “help the club move forward”.
Parker joined from Fulham after spending two years as the club’s head coach, experiencing both promotion to the Premier League and then relegation back to the Championship.
Speaking to journalists, the Cherries boss said: “It was the right time for both the football club, Fulham, and myself to move on.
“I had a fantastic two years at Fulham and one in which the first year was very successful and obviously last year the disappointment of relegation.”
When asked about the relegation from the Premier League, he said: “ Experiences of what I faced and what I have come up against are tools that will make me better.
“I got a great experience in this division and I have had experiences’ over the last couple years in different moments, for sure I am a better manager than I was two years ago.”
Parker also commented on the Dorset club’s latest acquisition, Emiliano Marcondes, who joined on a free transfer on Saturday, after the Danish midfielder’s contract expired with Brentford.
The new head coach pointed out that Marcondes was a “good signing for us” and that he is a player who has “quality”. Despite signing a three-year deal, the attacking midfielder was forced to quarantine due to COVID international travel guidelines and has yet to join up with the squad.
With a pre-season trip to Spain on the schedule, Parker will want his new man with the squad as soon as possible and was optimistic the former Danish under-21 international will be available for that trip.
Speaking to Nerve Sport, he revealed: “I hope he comes in on Thursday and can be part of what we need to do, come away with us on Sunday to Spain and have a good pre-season.”
The club will face Granada at the end of the nine day trip on Monday July 19 before hosting MK Dons in the Carabao Cup on July 31 at the Vitality Stadium.