Ian McParland

Playing career

McParland grew up in Tranent, East Lothian and after leaving an apprenticeship with Sunderland due to homesickness worked for two years in the Lothian coal mining industry whilst playing for Ormiston Primrose.{{cite web |access-date=23 April 2010}} McParland was with Notts County from 1980 to 1988, then had spells at Hull City, Walsall, Dunfermline Athletic, Lincoln City, Northampton Town, Instant-Dict (Hong Kong), Eastern AA (Hong Kong), Hamilton Academical and Berwick Rangers.

Coaching and management

Nottingham Forest

McParland eventually went to Nottingham Forest as a coach. He was with Forest for over 10 years and was the reserve team coach for most of that time. When Gary Megson left the club in February 2006, he was put in temporary charge with Frank Barlow in a joint first team management role.

He and Barlow were named Managers of the Month for March 2006, when they went 10 games unbeaten, with 6 straight wins, including a 7–1 victory over Swindon Town at the City Ground. McParland just missed out on equalling a club record of 7 straight wins when Forest fell to a 3–2 defeat at the hands of Hartlepool United. Despite Forest narrowly missing out on the League One playoffs, McParland was still the favourite to land the Forest job (with Barlow) on a permanent basis. After Colin Calderwood was named the permanent successor to Megson, McParland and Barlow became coaches for the Forest first team.

Notts County

He was announced as the new Notts County manager in October 2007. McParland enjoyed a two-year spell in charge and, despite the appointment of Sven-Göran Eriksson as Director of Football, the club decided to retain his services. McParland was sacked on 12 October 2009, however, with the club in fifth place in League Two.

Ipswich Town

He joined Ipswich as part of Roy Keane's coaching staff on 27 November 2009. On 7 January 2011 he took over as caretaker manager for the departed Keane, and in his first game suffered a 7–0 defeat to Premier League side Chelsea. His second and final game in charge was the home leg of the League Cup semi-final against Arsenal on 12 January 2011, which Ipswich won 1–0. He was replaced permanently by Paul Jewell on 13 January 2011.

Swindon Town

McParland joined Swindon Town on 3 March 2011 as assistant to Paul Hart who had taken over the manager's role. He left the club in April 2011 following relegation to League Two.

Return to Forest

On 28 February 2013, McParland was appointed the under-21 coach at former club Nottingham Forest, returning to the club after an absence of over five years. He was relieved of his position after Billy Davies was fired from Nottingham Forest. In August 2014 he was contacted by Norwegian club Sogndal to become assistant manager under former Leeds player Eirik Bakke. McParland assumed the position ahead of the 2015 1. divisjon campaign, but missed his family, resigned after only three months and returned to England.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Player

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year: 1986–87 Third Division, 1987–88 Third Division

Manager

Individual

• League One Manager of the Month: March 2006

References

References

1. {{Hugman. 12900
2. (1987). "Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88". Queen Anne Press.
3. (12 October 2009). "McParland loses Notts County job". BBC Sport.
4. (7 January 2011). "Charlie Takes Charge". Ipswich Town official website.
5. (3 March 2011). "Ian McParland joins Swindon Town". Swindon Town official website.
6. [https://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11727/8529594/Ian-McParland-returns-to-Nottingham-Forest-as-Under-21-coach Sky Sports: Ian McParland returns to Nottingham Forest]
7. (5 January 2015). "Frå Nottingham Forest til Sogndal for å rykke opp". [[NRK]].
8. (23 March 2015). "Sogndal-trenar sluttar på dagen". [[NRK]].
9. Lynch. "The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes".
10. Lynch. "The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes".
11. (30 March 2006). "Forest managers win monthly award". BBC Sport.