Phil Parkinson officially appointed new Chester manager

Parkinson arrives with Neil Sorvel as assistant on two-year deal

Phil Parkinson is the new Chester boss (CHARLIE STOCKTON)

Phil Parkinson has been officially announced as the new manager of Chester FC.

Parkinson arrives at the Deva Stadium along with assistant manager Neil Sorvel, his number two at both Nantwich Town and Altrincham, on a two-year deal, with his goal being to haul Chester out of the National League North.

The 45-year-old’s appointment will come as little surprise to Blues fans, with his namely heavily linked with the post as soon as Calum McIntyre departed the club back in late February, where he was temporarily replaced with interim boss Connell Rawlinson.

Parkinson brings a wealth of experience to the club after enjoying a successful eight years as Altrincham manager which came to an end back in October 2025. His tenure of 2,892 days in charge, where two promotions were achieved as well as the club’s transition to full-time football, saw him become the longest-serving manager in a single spell in Robins history.

Parkinson, whose assistant Sorvel, 53, amassed some 750 games as a player, more than 500 of them coming across spells with Macclesfield Town and Crewe Alexandra, will now begin the task of leading the Blues into the 2026/27 season following the culmination of Chester’s season last week, when an injury-time winner condemned them to defeat in their National League North play-off eliminator at Macclesfield.

Parkinson was in attendance at Moss Rose, and his appointment will come as little surprise to Chester fans, many of whom will have seen him watching on from the stands in more recent weeks.

A decision had been taken some time ago by the Blues board around his announcement, with it agreed that while the season was live, and there was something to play for, it could be potentially distracting for the players aiming to finish a job under the leadership of Rawlinson, whose future still remains uncertain.

Speaking on his appointment, Parkinson said: “I’m delighted to be here. It feels like the perfect fit for me right now.

“It’s an exciting prospect. Supporters can expect a real modern-day approach to football. We have a set way of going about things, an identity that we won’t deviate from.”

“We’re going to have to bring our A-game, and if we do, which we will, we’ll get this right and give everybody something to be really excited about come the summer.”

Parkinson, who had been working as interim Fleetwood Town under-21s boss until the end of the season, has had the benefit of being able to assess the Chester squad, and discussions are taking place with players over their own individual futures, with a retained list likely within the next fortnight.

As a manager, Parkinson took over at Nantwich in early 2015, quickly forging an identity for the team as a high-energy attacking side. An FA Trophy semi-final in 2015/16, followed by a play-off semi-final defeat in the Northern Premier League Premier Division the following season, was enough to convince Altrincham he was the man to turn around their fortunes.

In April 2017, the arrival of Parkinson and Sorvel at Moss Lane just ahead of the club’s relegation from the National League North, heralded a new beginning for the Robins.

The following year the title was won, with the following season delivering play-off qualification in the National League North. In 2020 they went one better and won the play-offs to seal promotion to the National League, where they would remain. Another FA Trophy semi-final arrived in 2023/24, and Parkinson guided them to fourth that season, losing to Bromley in the play-off semi-finals.

A difficult start to the 2025/26 season would bring an end to his spell in charge, but Chester believe that their new man has a CV of proven quality, one that can deliver what Blues fans crave; promotion.

“Today we open a new and exciting chapter in the recent history of Chester FC with the appointment of Phil Parkinson as first team manager, with Neil Sorvel as his assistant,” a statement from CFU chairman Nick Phillipson read.

“Phil was our preferred choice from the start. He brings a wealth of experience from his time resurrecting and consolidating Altrincham back into the National League. He developed their Academy and produced a pathway for players to further their careers and brought both value and financial benefits to their club. This aligns with our values and thinking as a fan-owned club.

“The Board are confident that Phil will be able to bring us the success we all want: promotion back to the National League.

“We are in this together. All of us will have an important role this season in supporting Phil and the club to achieve this upward progress.

“Welcome, Phil and Neil – we all look forward to working with you.”