National League side Altrincham part company with long-serving manager Phil Parkinson

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National League side Altrincham have confirmed that long-serving manager Phil Parkinson has left the club, bringing an end to an eight-year spell that transformed the Robins both on and off the pitch.

The 44-year-old was appointed on 28 April 2017, on the eve of the final game of a season that saw Altrincham relegated to the Northern Premier League.

He arrived from Nantwich Town, where he earned plaudits for transforming the Dabbers from relegation battlers into promotion contenders, also guiding them to the FA Trophy semi-finals in 2016.

Parkinson made an immediate impact at Moss Lane, steering Altrincham to promotion as NPL champions in his first season.

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Proud

That success was followed by a National League North play-off appearance in 2018-19, before securing promotion to the National League via the play-offs in 2020.

During his tenure, the Robins enjoyed sustained progress and stability, highlighted by a run to the Isuzu FA Trophy semi-finals, consistent mid-table finishes at National League level, and a play-off campaign in 2023–24, where they finished fourth before falling to Bromley in the semi-finals.

However, with the Robins currently sitting 20th in the National League, the club’s board decided that a change was needed.

In a statement, Chairman Mark Luby said: “Phil Parkinson and Neil Sorvel leave the club in a much stronger position than when they arrived.

“They can rightly be proud of everything they have achieved during their tenure.

“Whilst making this change has been extremely difficult, we felt we were left with very little alternative given our current league position.”

The club confirmed that a full tribute to Parkinson’s tenure will be published in due course. Later on, the club confirmed that Neil Gibson has been appointed interim head coach, with the search for a permanent first-team manager ongoing.

Lee Jones will serve as assistant, with the duo – who previously managed National League side Wealdstone – set to lead the team ahead of this weekend’s clash with Braintree Town.

The Robins are winless in their last seven league outings, with their only success since the start of September coming in an FA Cup replay victory over Harborough Town.

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