London, Aug 30: A 9-0 thrashing by Liverpool and veiled criticism of his club’s strategy in the transfer market was too much for Scott Parker to survive as Bournemouth manager.
The former England midfielder was fired on Tuesday, becoming the first coach in the English Premier League to lose his job in August – traditionally the opening month of the season – since 2004.
Parker lasted only four games of Bournemouth’s return to the top-flight, the last one being a third straight loss that tied the record for the heaviest defeat in the Premier League’s 30-year history.
After the rout at Anfield, Parker said some of his players “are ill-equipped at this level,” with the team having come off a 4-0 loss at Manchester City and a 3-0 loss at home to Arsenal.
Parker said there were “a million reasons” why the club had not brought in higher-quality talent in the summer transfer window, which closes on Thursday. In a summer of record spending by Premier League teams totalling more than USD 1.75 billion, Bournemouth has brought in three players on free transfers and signed two others for a total cost of around USD 27 million.
In the club’s statement announcing the departure of Parker, Bournemouth owner Maxim Demin didn’t mention the Liverpool game but, tellingly, did say it was “unconditional that we are aligned in our strategy to run the club sustainably.” “We must also show belief in and respect for one another,” Demin said.
“That is the approach that has brought this club so much success in recent history, and one that we will not veer from now.” Parker was hired by Bournemouth in the off-season of 2021 and guided the south-coast team to promotion.
Bournemouth started life back in the league with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa but has since conceded 16 goals in three games without scoring a goal.
Parker previously coached Fulham in a 2 1/2-year spell that included relegation twice from the league and one promotion in between.
“I would like to place on record my gratitude to Scott and his team for their efforts during their time with us,” Demin said.
“Our promotion back to the Premier League last season under his tenure will always be remembered as one of the most successful seasons in our history.” Bournemouth is back in action on Wednesday, hosting Wolverhampton. Gary O’Neil, an assistant coach, will take interim charge of the team. (AP)
