Chester have appointed Phil Parkinson as their new manager, signing him to a two-year contract, the BBC reports. The former Altrincham boss takes charge at the Deva Stadium as the National League club look to move forward under fresh leadership.
Parkinson arrives with experience of non-league management, having previously led Altrincham before this appointment. Chester's decision to bring him in on a two-year deal suggests the club are looking for continuity rather than a short-term fix — a commitment that will be welcomed by supporters who have seen managerial instability affect clubs at this level before.
The appointment drew some attention beyond the usual National League circles owing to the fact that a Phil Parkinson of the same name manages Wrexham, who departed the fifth tier some years ago following their well-documented takeover and subsequent rise. The two men are unrelated, and the coincidence is unlikely to cause confusion for long once the new Chester manager begins his work.
Chester themselves have had an eventful recent history, having reformed as a supporter-owned club following the collapse of Chester City in 2010. The club has since worked its way back through the non-league pyramid and currently competes in the National League, the fifth tier of English football. Retaining a manager for a full two-year spell would represent a degree of stability that the project has not always enjoyed.
Whether Parkinson can translate his experience at Altrincham into results at Chester remains to be seen. The National League is an unforgiving division, with promotion places fiercely contested and relegation a constant threat for clubs without the resources of some of their rivals. His work in the coming weeks and months will offer the clearest indication of whether this appointment can deliver what Chester are looking for.