Cherries boss Scott Parker revealed “I still expect to get promoted” after bringing in seven new players during the transfer window - five of which joined on deadline day.
Cherries boss Scott Parker revealed “I still expect to get promoted” after bringing in seven new players during the transfer window - five of which joined on deadline day.
After recruiting Ethan Laird and James Hill earlier in the transfer window, Parker was able to bring in Kieffer Moore, Siriki Dembele, Todd Cantwell, Freddie Woodman and Nat Phillips on deadline day.
After adding heavily during the January transfer window, when asked about whether he considers there to be added pressure on himself or the team to get promoted the head coach responded: “Everyone was saying that at the start of the season. There is added pressure because the narrative is five players walked in on deadline day and it's big players.
“That pressure was no different when I had a substitutes bench in the first game with seven subs who had three appearances between them,” Parker explained.
“We went on 14 games unbeaten and everyone looked past what exactly the boys were doing and what an incredible job they were doing and expected us to get promoted.”
As far as the head coach is concerned, nothing has changed and remains confident the Dorset club will gain promotion back to the Premier League after two years away from England’s top flight.
He continued: “I expected to get promoted when I walked in here and I still expect to get promoted now.
“That is just part and parcel of it. I would not want it any different.”
The Cherries have struggled in the league lately having only won three of their last 10 games and Parker has not been shy in saying the club needed reinforcements. The former England international now believes he has the squad depth capable of finishing the season strongly and get the team promoted.
Parker added: “What I do have and what we have now is some added level of quality that can help this team. Because at this present moment in time we need a little bit of help and we now have the depth in place in certain positions that can help us do that.
“The pressure is the pressure that is just part of sitting in the chair which I sit in and part and parcel of a team that wants to get promoted.”
Next up for the Cherries is the visit of National League side Boreham Wood before games against Birmingham, Blackpool, Nottingham Forest, Swansea and Stoke in a busy and important month in the Championship.