Blackpool v Brum: Parkes' Odd Public Persona

I'm sure you've read Tony Parkes' very public plea to Chairman Karl Oyston today. 'Back me or sack me' said the Blackpool caretaker manager, which seems quite a strange statement to release to the press just a day before a crucial league game at home to Birmingham.

The Blues, who have again failed in a bid to sign Rangers striker Kris Boyd this week, are probably laughing at the shambolic situation at Bloomfield Road at present; the caretaker manager has shown his hand in public at a time where you would expect him to keep his head down - especially as The Seasiders haven't yet won a game under his stewardship.

But Parkes has been surprisingly vocal, and insists that the managerial situation needs to be sorted soon, which could in fact lead to his downfall - or maybe not!

This brings us to the title of the article, and something which has been picked up on by a couple of people on the internet today: does Tony Parkes hold all the aces in the race to become Blackpool's new manager?

It's obvious he wants a decision soon, and has even bemoaned the lack of funds for him to spend this January transfer window.

A win against Alex McLeish's Birmingham tomorrow would give Oyston an easy decision I would guess, and Parkes would certainly be in line for the job if we did pick up three points tomorrow - making today's public plea look shrewd.

The cynic in me is thinking it's been done for a different reason though. Has Simon Grayson given Parkes the hurry-up? Afterall, that assistant manager post at Elland Road is still vacant...

Twisted world, this football.

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