PHIL PARKINSON today turned down the Town managerial job.
The 39-year-old was due to be unveiled as Galpharm successor to Peter Jackson but elected instead to stay as No2 to Alan Pardew at Premiership Charlton Athletic.
Town vice-chairman Andrew Watson said: "We were going to unveil Phil Parkinson as our new manager but he called at 8.15am today to say he was staying at Charlton.
"We interviewed a number of high quality applicants, the majority of whom would be able to take the club forward, and it was a very difficult and close decision to choose Phil, who attended two interviews and, on Sunday, was offered terms. He shook hands with the board of directors and accepted, subject to a conversation with his wife.
"He was shown around the training facilities and Academy and on Monday accepted the job. We understand Charlton were aware of his application and interviews and, yesterday, Phil called to ask us to tie things up and fix when an announcement would be made with Charlton's chief exec Peter Varney.
"That was done, but Phil called last night to say Charlton had made him an unbelievable offer to stay and wanted until this morning to decide."
Parkinson said: "I have had a change of heart. I have been immensely impressed by Town and the integrity of the board. It's a fantastic club with a great infrastructure which will go from strength to strength, but I couldn't walk away from working with Alan Pardew in the Premiership."
