This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Regular Punter’ series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience…

Football League World’s Sunderland fan pundit Charlie Hodgson has suggested promotion from League One would be a possibility this season if the club appoints Phil Parkinson as their new manager.

Sunderland have been searching for a new manager for more than a week after Jack Ross had his contract terminated last Monday.

Ex-Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel, Roy Keane and Wigan Athletic’s Paul Cook are among the many names to be linked to the job but, according to the Chronicle Live, Phil Parkinson is close to becoming the new manager at the Stadium of Light.

Parkinson did a very respectable job under difficult circumstances at Bolton and has great experience in English football, having been promoted with Colchester United, Bradford City, and Bolton.

Hodgson suggested that he believed there is a chance the 51-year-old could have similar success with Sunderland.

He explained: “I’m slightly 50/50 on whether he could get promoted with us. He’s done it before but he doesn’t really have the players to play his preferred more defensive style.”

Hodgson suggested that he felt that the club would be looking too short term if they made the appointment.

He said: “I think promotion is very much a possibility under him this season but for me, the club should have looked for someone more long term who can do a job for them in the Championship providing they go up this season–which is a must.”

After not playing during the international break, Sunderland have dropped down to ninth in League One.

They face a tough test against second-place Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on Saturday.

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