CHERRIES have sacked Scott Parker four games into the season – with a fractured and fraught relationship between head coach and board likely spelling an end to his reign at the Vitality Stadium.

Not one to hold his tongue, Parker frequently made comments over the summer regarding the club’s recruitment.

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The 41-year-old’s time at Fulham came to an end in similar circumstances, with Parker also questioning Fulham’s board and their plans for the club. Immediately after suffering relegation with the Cottagers, Parker told Sky Sports: “We’ve fallen short at this level.

“There’s no denying that, that’s hence why we’re relegated. We need to work out what we need to do to improve that, I’m not just talking about the players and the team, I’m talking about us a football team.

“I think we need to work out very quickly as a football club, where we went wrong this year. And every single avenue, there’s going to be elements where we need to understand.

“We’re on a rollercoaster, relegation, promotion, relegation. We need to make some big decisions. We need to understand where we need to get to, what we need to do.

“My players have given me absolutely everything. We’ve fallen short on quality at times. We need to have some discussions, and everyone will at the football club, sit down and work out what we need to do to go forward, and get off this rollercoaster that we’re on.

“At the moment we’re going through the same cycle, what is key is we break that cycle.”

Months later, Parker had departed Fulham and joined Cherries, where he had reportedly been a long-term target of the board.

Fast forward to the end of July, when Cherries were yet to splash out on a transfer, with the only summer additions, Joe Rothwell and Ryan Fredericks, arriving on free transfers from Blackburn Rovers and West Ham respectively.

After defeat to Bristol City in pre-season, Parker stated: “We lost eight players at the end of last season and we brought in two.

“You’d say that, at this moment in time, we are a weaker squad and a weaker team than what we were at the back end of last season.

“They are the challenges we face in terms of trying to get some help in to support the current team and current players - for the next level of what we are going to – which is the Premier League.”

Cherries seemingly reacted to their head coach’s comments, with Marcus Tavernier arriving a few days later from Middlesbrough for a reported fee of £10 million.

At the time, multiple comparisons were drawn to fellow promoted side Nottingham Forest, who have been the Premier League’s most active club in the transfer market. Steve Cooper’s side have made 18 additions this summer, for a reported total of over £140m.

Asked about the differing situations at both clubs, Parker responded: “It’s just the polar opposite to where we are, really.

“It’s a club that have obviously got promoted and invested a huge amount of money, in terms of strengthening, in terms of going up to the next level, which is the Premier League.

“They’ve tried to do that with signing players, they’ve felt the need to do that.

“We’re not in that market. Us as a football club are not in a position to be able to do that, really. Them and us, it’s chalk and cheese.”

Cherries opened their wallet for a second time when they brought in Marcos Senesi for a reported £13m, also adding goalkeeper Neto on a free transfer.

Despite the additions, Parker stressed that the side still needed more “help”, whilst claiming that there were no further incomings likely.

Speaking prior to the 9-0 thumping away at Liverpool, Parker shared: "We need bodies through the door for sure.

"We need help in that and to evolve as a team and as a football club. Certainly that is the case.

"Again, now we sit in this position. Obviously days are going by and that has been pretty tricky for many reasons, for many circumstances.

"So I'm hoping, and we're hoping, everyone's trying to bring players in, but like I said, there's many obstacles we're facing at this present moment in time, so hopefully we can do that."

Arguably Parker’s most damning comments came after the 9-0 defeat, with the then head coach sharing that Cherries were “struggling for air”.

He urged the club to make a “decision” regarding their direction, with the board ultimately making one – to remove Parker as head coach.

He mentioned: “But at this moment in time, where we currently are, I can see some more, to be honest with you.

“So, we need to make a decision, that's just where it is.

“I think I've been clear on that from the minute I stepped in.

“I've been clear throughout all of that in terms of how this season could look for us, these experiences, what we're going to face, what they may look (like) and I stick by that – that’s exactly what it will look like.

“We need to make a decision and try to help this group, this young group who at times are struggling for air.

“Every one of us, me, my staff, the fans, we need to make that decision.”