Parkinson adds to the party mood by signing three-year City contract

The 45-year-old yesterday joined assistant manager Steve Parkin and fitness coach Nick Allamby in putting pen-to-paper on new three-year Valley Parade contracts.

As exclusively revealed by the Yorkshire Post last week, Parkinson, whose previous deal was due to expire next month, had verbally agreed a two-year extension with joint-chairman Julian Rhodes but wanted to sign at the same time as his backroom staff.

Rhodes said: “Everyone is delighted that Phil, Steve and Nick have signed their contracts. It is a major boost for Bradford City.

“I appreciate fans had been getting concerned, especially with each day seeming to bring a new vacancy. But I’d always remained confident that Phil would stay.

“The only potential problem could have been a Premier League club coming in and offering him something we couldn’t possible have competed with.

“Thankfully, that didn’t happen and we can now look forward and plan accordingly. Him and the club seem a perfect fit, something I think Phil appreciates.

“It is down to him that the deal is for three years, rather than the two we’d agreed verbally last week. Basically, he came in on Monday and said, ‘Why don’t we make it three years?’

“We were delighted, as we are in both Steve and Nick agreeing similar deals. It is a real vote of confidence in how Phil and his staff see the club evolving in the coming years.”

The conclusion of a contract saga which had dragged on for five months has further improved a feelgood factor which has engulfed the club since last weekend’s play-off final victory.

It also served as the perfect backdrop to last night’s celebrations as players and officials enjoyed an open-top bus parade round Bradford.

Captain Gary Jones and his City team-mates proudly showed off the League Two play-off trophy to thousands of delighted supporters.

Rhodes added: “We met Phil, Steve and Nick to sort out the contract issue but most of the meeting was spent discussing the way forward.

“Everyone at the club is determined to build on this last season and make a real go of it next year.”

Among the topics discussed yesterday was the future of those players whose contracts are due to expire this summer.

Gary Jones has already been offered a new one-year deal after leading Bradford to promotion, while City have also exercised an option to hand Kyel Reid a new contract.

The club is also understood to have options over possibly extending the stays of Garry Thompson, Jon McLaughlin and Zavon Hines.

Carl McHugh is another out of contract but Parkinson also has big decisions to make in the coming days and weeks over Andrew Davies and Nathan Doyle, who both signed one-year deals in the summer of 2012 and are likely to once again be coveted by other clubs.

Joint-chairman Rhodes said: “Like everyone at the club, the management team have enjoyed being able to celebrate what has been a wonderful season.

“But, as was apparent during our meeting (yesterday), Phil and his staff also can’t wait to get back to work. They have so many ideas with regards next season.”

The signing of his new deal by Parkinson came a couple of days after his merit award at the annual League Managers’ Association dinner. He picked up the LMA’s ‘Outstanding Managerial Award’ at Monday’s glittering ceremony, which also saw Sir Alex Ferguson named ‘Manager of the Year’.

On ending months of uncertainty by signing his new contract, Parkinson said: “I didn’t want anything to detract from our main focus throughout the play-offs, which was obviously to get promoted.

“Now that aim has been achieved, I was able to sit down with the two chairmen this morning and get the contract all finalised.

“We have had a terrific season, but we know we have an important summer ahead of us now. We can’t sit back on what we have achieved – we have to keep working and striving forward. Our aim now is to get a team on the pitch next year that our supporters will enjoy watching.

“There is a team behind our team out on the pitch, however, and it was important that I recognised that. That is why I always wanted Steve and Nick to get their contracts sorted, and that is why I am delighted they have both signed.

“Matt Barrass (head physio) is already under contract but we will be sitting down with him and trying to secure him for longer as well. Myself, Steve, Nick and Matt didn’t know each other before we came here but we have worked well together. We have a good balance among the staff.

“When you get the good chemistry between a group, it is important to stay together.”