Phil Parkinson will not be sacked prior to Blackpool clash | OneFootball

Phil Parkinson’s nightmare spell at Sunderland will last at the least one more match.

That’s according to Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith, who claims owner Stewart Donald is ‘desperate’ for Parkinson to turn the ship around this weekend against Blackpool.

“There doesn’t look to be any prospect of a change as it stands,” he wrote in a Q&A on Wednesday.

“I fully expect Parkinson to be in charge for Saturday. It’s a big game, and Simon Grayson returning for the first time since his infamous sacking just minutes after the 3-3 draw with Bolton just adds another layer of intrigue.”

Grayson was similarly poor while in charge of Sunderland for their first 18 games of the 2017-18 season, winning just three games, drawing seven, and losing eight.

Through Parkinson’s first 12 games at the helm, the 52-year-old has put together a horrific 2-2-8 record.

“Generally speaking, Stewart Donald has backed Phil Parkinson significantly,” Smith went on.

“He may have spoken about the need for a short-term lift and focused on the need for promotion this season, but he gave him a long contract, backed him to bring a new, extensive backroom staff, and has made plans for the upcoming January window.

“Put simply, he will be desperate for this to turn around.”

At the current moment, Parkinson’s points-per-game record would be the lowest in club history for a permanent manager.