Premier League: Bournemouth sack Scott Parker
The first sacking of the Premier League season has been announced.
Photo credit - Football Pictures | Flickr
Bournemouth have announced the sacking of boss Scott Parker after Saturday's 9-0 defeat by Liverpool, four games into the season.
The Liverpool thrashing was Bournemouth's third straight league defeat, having won their opening match.
Gary O'Neil will take interim charge of the team and will be assisted by Shaun Cooper and Tommy Elphick.
Parker left Fulham for Bournemouth in June 2021 and led them to promotion from the Championship as runners-up, but his managerial statistics since returning to the Premier League make unhappy reading.
Did Parker deserve the sack? Footage from the game can be found in the video below. AFC Bournemouth - YouTube
After winning their opening match 2-0 at home to Aston Villa, the Cherries conceded 16 goals in their next three league games - losing 4-0 at Manchester City and 3-0 at home to Arsenal before shipping nine goals at Anfield. Their goal difference of -14 is the worst after four games in English top-flight history.
Parker was dismissed just 25 days into the season - the earliest a manager of a newly promoted side has ever been sacked in the Premier League.
He is also the first Premier League manager in 18 years - since Bobby Robson at Newcastle in 2004 - to lose his job in August and only the 11th to be sacked just four games into a season - the most recent being Javi Gracia at Watford in 2019.
The former Charlton and Chelsea midfielder described the 9-0 defeat at Liverpool that triggered his departure as a "humbling experience", saying in his post-match press conference that the squad needed strengthening if they were to be equipped for the Premier League.
Parker also reportedly made pointed remarks directed towards the club's hierarchy in an apparent bid for support in the transfer market.
This was how the club announced the sacking on Twitter
AFC Bournemouth can announce that the club has parted company with head coach Scott Parker.
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 30, 2022
This was how a neutral fan responded
As an outsider looking in, I feel this is a bit harsh. Yes, he's not had an amazing start, but you've played three very tough games. I know he's had some money to spend, but in comparison to other teams, it isn't a lot. Not sure if the finances allow this?
— Jacko The Red (@JKloppsKop) August 30, 2022
The club spent a reported £13.5m on Feyenoord centre-back Marcos Senesi, 25, and £12.5m on 23-year-old Middlesbrough midfielder Marcus Tavernier, although both fees were undisclosed by the club.
The Cherries also added three free transfers - West Ham right-back Ryan Fredericks, 29, Blackburn midfielder Joe Rothwell, 27, and Barcelona goalkeeper Neto, 33.
It will be interesting to see what Bournemouth and Parker do next. Stay tuned for more Premier League news from European Super Football.
