Two chairmen? At Charlton I had 18 directors to deal with

The history of the game is littered with fall-outs between the man in charge of the team and the man who holds the purse strings.

Bradford City, of course, are unique in English football by having both Mark Lawn and Julian Rhodes as equal partners at the top of the club.

It is perhaps not a surprise, therefore, that Phil Parkinson has fielded the same question several times since being appointed by the Bantams late last month.

Just what is it like working for two chairmen? His answer is always the same.

“A few people in the game have asked me what it is like to deal with two chairmen as opposed to one,” admitted the 43-year-old yesterday tea-time when speaking to the Yorkshire Post just an hour or so after signing Craig Fagan on a one-year deal.

“People seem to think it might be difficult. But, at Charlton, I was in the scenario where we had 18 directors at one point. And every deal had to go through them all before being sanctioned.

“Here, the set-up is much more streamlined in comparison. Plus, Mark and Julian are very open. We discuss things and it is clear to me that all they want is what is best for the club.

“That much is obvious from the amount of money they have put in. With me, they will get everything I have got to try and make that happen.

“There may not be an abundance of money but if we have enough people pulling in the right direction then it gives us a chance. This is a good club and I am sure we can all build something good here – step by step, brick, by brick.”

Parkinson’s appointment last month came at the end of a tumultuous 72 hours that saw Peter Jackson resign on the Thursday, City claim their first win of the season two days later at home to Barnet and then the new manager confirmed the following morning.

It was a whirlwind few days that set the tone for Bradford’s new manager, who was immediately faced with the unenviable task of needing to strengthen his squad with the transfer window about to slam shut.

He moved quickly, bringing in Jamie Devitt on loan from Hull City and capturing free agents Kyel Reid and Matt Duke. Both had worked with Parkinson before at Charlton and Hull respectively, while Bradford’s most recent signing, Fagan, also played under him at Colchester and at the KC Stadium.

All four are likely to be mainstays of the Bantams team in the coming weeks and months as Parkinson attempts to kick-start the club’s season.

He said: “I knew when I took over that we needed to strengthen. I had met the two chairmen on the Friday before we played Barnet for a chat. They gave me a couple of DVDs and I had already seen the Leeds game (in the Carling Cup tie that was shown live on Sky).

“I thought we were short in a couple of areas so the priority was rectifying that.

“It was very difficult in terms of coming in three days before the deadline but I am pleased with the business we have done so far.

“Reid, Devitt and Duke have all done well. They may be behind in terms of match fitness but we will get them that. They will improve as a result.

“And then there is the Craig Fagan deal that we have just done.”

Devitt, in particular, has impressed so far for City with the Irish midfielder’s first goal having come in the midweek defeat to Port Vale.

Asked about the 21-year-old, the Bantams chief said: “After leaving Charlton last season, I was working for Arsenal (as a scout) so fortunate in the respect that I was out watching games all the time.

“It was on one of those trips that I saw Jamie Devitt play. He had been a kid at Hull, a first-year scholar, when I was manager (in 2006) so I don’t really remember him.

“But I watched him when working for Arsenal and noted him down, thinking that he would be a good signing when I was next in management.”

City travel to big-spending Crawley Town still looking for their first win under Parkinson, whose three games in charge have brought draws against Morecambe and Bristol Rovers plus Tuesday’s unfortunate last-minute defeat at Vale Park.

He said: “If we keep putting in the performances, the results will come. I am confident of that. The task then is to get Bradford City moving forward.

“The club has a really good structure with the training facilities and the work being put in by the two chairmen to take Bradford City forward.

“People talk about sleeping giants and getting the club back up the leagues but there has to be a pathway to achieve that.

“What the two chairmen have done is set that out. The School of Excellence is flourishing, while we also have the Development Squad and the training base.

“When you are trying to attract players, the training facilities can help. Of course, they want to play at a good ground but this is where they are every day.

“The foundations are being put in place and now the task is to get the club up the league.

“On a personal level, the incentive of turning Bradford around is huge and the reward of getting this club going again will make all the effort worthwhile. And I am really confident and hopeful I can be the man to make that happen.”

Ipswich midfielder Andy Drury has joined Crawley on loan.

The 27-year-old has agreed a three-month deal at the Broadfield Stadium and will go straight into the squad to face Bradford tomorrow.

Boss Steve Evans said: “We tried to sign him from Luton in January but it was not to be.

“He is a big, strong lad with great ability and our supporters will take to him in a big way. He is a match-winner and a great signing.”

The deal includes a clause enabling Crawley to make the transfer permanent in January.