Scott Parker has parted ways with Fulham following their relegation from the Premier League in May.
The Englishman has left Craven Cottage via mutual consent, according to a statement on the club’s website.
He was unable to keep them in the top flight during the recent campaign as they finished 18th on 28 points.
Speaking after the announcement, club chairman Shahid Khan said: “Through promotion and relegation alike, Scott has always enjoyed my support as our head coach.
“Scott’s departure does nothing to shake my confidence, however. We will hire a new head coach who is capable of achieving our goal of promotion and will be committed to Fulham and its supporters.
“And we will field a squad that will respond, compete and win. Onward.”
Parker became caretaker boss in February 2019 after the sacking of Claudio Ranieri. The Cottagers were ultimately relegated to the Championship that season by finishing in 19th place.
He enjoyed more success during his first full season in charge. Fulham achieved an immediate return to the Prem by defeating Brentford 2-1 in the play-off final, having finished fourth during the regular campaign.
However, their relegation woes continued yet again in 2020/21 and they’re now back to square one.
Parker’s departure contradicts his previous claims that he would remain ‘committed’ to Fulham ‘for the foreseeable future’.
The former midfielder has been linked to the Tottenham job in recent months, although they’re not thought to be pursuing him at this time.
Instead, Parker could join Championship side Bournemouth.
Recent reports suggest they are ‘keen to talk’ with the 40-year-old as he is their number one managerial target.
They’re looking for a long-term solution after sacking Jason Tindall in early February. Jonathan Woodgate took over for the rest of the campaign as they reached sixth place in the league.
The Cherries have long admired Parker’s talents, ever since his days coaching Tottenham’s U18 side.
They were hoping to speak with him and his agent, but only once his Fulham exit had been confirmed.
Now that it has, a Bournemouth announcement is expected in the coming weeks.
Fulham Football Club statement
Fulham Football Club can confirm that Scott Parker has left the Club by mutual consent.
Scott Parker took caretaker charge in February 2019, with the team in the relegation zone, for the final 10 matches of the 2018/19 Premier League season. He was appointed Head Coach on a permanent basis in May that year and, in his first full season in charge, the Club achieved promotion back to the Premier League by defeating Brentford in the Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium in August 2020.
The subsequent Premier League campaign resulted in relegation, confirmed after the 2-0 defeat at home against Burnley in May.
Matt Wells (First Team Coach), Rob Burch (Goalkeeping Coach), Alastair Harris (Head of Sports Science), Jonathan Hill (First Team Match Analyst) and Charlie Moore (Lead Physical Performance Coach) have also left the Club.
Fulham Chairman, Shahid Khan, said: “Through promotion and relegation alike, Scott has always enjoyed my support as our Head Coach. Scott’s departure does nothing to shake my confidence, however. We will hire a new Head Coach who is capable of achieving our goal of promotion and will be committed to Fulham and its supporters. And we will field a squad that will respond, compete and win. Onward.”