Two Phil Parkinsons? Chester appoint Wrexham boss namesake

Chester have appointed Phil Parkinson (left) as their new manager, while Phil Parkinson (right) remains manager of their bitter rivals Wrexham [Shutterstock]

They say if you can't beat them them join them and that's exactly what Chester have done with their managerial appointment.

No doubt less than delighted at watching bitter rivals Wrexham rocket through the leagues under the management of Phil Parkinson, the National League North side have gone and appointed Phil Parkinson as their new boss.

It would of course be quite the story had Phil Parkinson gone from missing out on a Championship play-off place and a potential fourth successive promotion, to the Premier League, to take over a side who have just finished seventh in the sixth tier.

On this occasion that isn't quite the case.

Chester have appointed former Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson as they look to secure promotion back to the National League after eight years away.

Whether Phil Parkinson will face Phil Parkinson during his time in charge of the Blues is probably unlikely but the two have met during Wrexham's time in non-league.

All four league meetings went the way of the Hollywood-backed Welsh side then but Alty did take the win on penalties when they met in the FA Trophy in 2023.

Phil Parkinson, the new Chester boss, has signed a two-year deal and said fans 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".

If he can have anywhere near the same success that his namesake has had with the Welsh neighbours then Blues supporters will be ecstatic.