Phil Parkinson will be absent from the touchline against Hull City tonight
Phil Parkinson will not be on the touchline for Wrexham’s trip to Hull City tonight after picking up his third booking of the Championship season. The suspension follows a yellow card in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Preston North End, but the manager believes referees need to show more leniency towards managers in emotionally charged moments.
Phil Parkinson handed touchline responsibility to assistant Steve Parkin at MKM Stadium as Wrexham look to extend their nine-game unbeaten run. The side sit 12th in the Championship, just three points away from the play-off places, and have built momentum under a system that functions even without Parkinson’s direct touchline presence.
The suspension came after three bookings this season
Parkinson accumulated his third card of the campaign at Deepdale, triggering an automatic one-match ban under Championship regulations. It’s not the first time he’s watched from the stands this season. He also missed the FA Cup fourth round defeat at Blackburn Rovers for the same reason.
The manager’s frustration with officiating standards has grown throughout the campaign. He questions how quickly bookings accumulate when compared to the number of refereeing errors that go unpunished during matches.
“It’s so easy to pick a booking up. I said to the referee afterwards, the amount of mistakes that were made in the game, if I’ve overreacted in one moment surely that shouldn’t warrant a yellow card because I could have counted numerous moments where he hadn’t called things right.”
The frustration stems from what Parkinson sees as inconsistent application of disciplinary standards. He spoke with Kevin Friend, the head of Championship referees, who admitted one of his earlier bookings at Leicester should never have been issued.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat admission only reinforced Parkinson’s view that managers face disproportionate consequences for momentary reactions while officials make repeated errors without accountability. The consistency Wrexham have shown on the pitch stands in contrast to the inconsistency they’ve experienced from match officials.
Parkinson believes managers deserve more tolerance from officials
The accumulation of cards reflects a broader issue Parkinson has identified with how officials manage technical areas in the Championship. When mistakes compound on the pitch, managers’ natural reactions can cost them touchline access in crucial matches.
“I just feel for managers in the emotion and the passion of the game, there needs to be a little bit of leniency at times, but it is what it is and we’ll deal with it.”
Parkinson acknowledged the reality of the situation while maintaining his position that referees could show greater understanding. Football is an emotional game, and managers are expected to lead with passion while somehow remaining immune to the tension that defines Championship fixtures.
Wrexham’s structure ensures continuity regardless of who occupies the technical area. Leadership on the pitch and on the bench allows the side to maintain tactical discipline and momentum, even when Parkinson communicates from the stands rather than the touchline.
Tonight’s absence won’t derail Wrexham’s push towards the play-offs, but it underscores a tension between managerial passion and officiating standards that Parkinson believes needs addressing. The unbeaten run continues with or without him on the touchline.
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