Parkinson: In with a shout of automatic promotion

Last updated : 24 January 2007 By Paul Smith

Parkinson, signed on a free from Grimsby Town in the summer revealed the aim in an interview with Magpie World. ‘Parky' said, “We've got to make sure we take maximum points from us many games as possible now to be in with a shout of either automatic promotion or at least the playoffs.”

Notts currently sit one place outside of the Playoffs, with Stockport ahead on goal difference alone, by just one goal. However, they are six points adrift of sixth place, and a massive fourteen from the final automatic promotion slot. With just five points separating Notts in eighth and Bury in sixteenth, Parkinson's claims could be seen as a little overly optimistic.

Parkinson...Ever the optimist

Nevertheless, Saturday's 5-2 win over Torquay has risen hope, particularly with it seeing Notts collect back to back league wins for the first time since the end of September, thanks to a 2-1 win at Accrington a week previously.

Parkinson said, “Hopefully the bad run we was on has gone now. We got back to back wins and now we're looking to build on that.”

The big factor behind Saturday's win was the end of the poor home form, which saw Notts win just once in seven league games prior to this weekend. Parkinson said, “We've made sure we've had a good few meetings about trying to sort it out. The fans have been quiet lately and rightly so. Hopefully we've given them something to shout about because we've been poor, but hopefully we've turned the corner.”

On the Notts fans, the former Tranmere ace in his third spell in Nottingham after two loan stays during the 2003/2004 League 1 relegation season, said, “They pay their money so they are entitled to their opinion.”

Despite being a substitute on Saturday, Parkinson earnt good reviews after impressing with an early appearance following an injury to Junior Mendes. He was happy with his goal and overall contribution, “If you are sub, the point of being a sub is to come on and make an impression, and I hope I did that.”