CHERRIES have confirmed the appointment of Scott Parker as head coach on a three-year contract ahead of the start of the 2021-22 Championship season.

The former England midfielder parted company with Fulham earlier today and, after weeks of speculation over his future, he has arrived at Vitality Stadium ahead of the new campaign.

Described as always having been the club’s number one choice by chief executive Neill Blake, Parker brings with him an illustrious CV as both a player and manager.

London-born Parker started his playing career coming through the youth ranks at Charlton and would go on to play 118 times at senior level for the club.

He then joined Chelsea and was named the PFA Young player of the year for the 2003-04 campaign.

Spells at the likes of Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham then followed while the midfielder also represented England 18 times at senior level, including featuring prominently at Euro 2012.

Parker joined Fulham in 2013 and would go on to represent the Cottagers 128 times in all competitions, before announcing his retirement.

He would then swiftly return to Tottenham as their under-18 coach, as well as a club ambassador.

Parker in fact managed Spurs under-18s to a 3-0 win against Cherries’ youngsters in the FA Youth Cup at Vitality Stadium, in January 2018.

Cherries’ squad that evening included the likes of Will Dennis, Jaidon Anthony and Gavin Kilkenny, all part of Parker’s new first-team group.

Having then joined Fulham as a first-team coach under Slovisa Jokanovic and then Claudio Ranieri, Parker was installed as the club’s caretaker manager in February 2019 but failed to keep the London side in the top flight.

He did however take Fulham back to the Premier League via the play-offs during the 2019-20 campaign, seeing off Brentford in the final at Wembley.

But an 18th-placed finish last season resulted in Fulham being relegated once more and Parker departed Craven Cottage this weekend.

He will now embark on a new project with Cherries, whose previous head coach Jonathan Woodgate sees his contract expire at the end of this month.

Cherries were due back in for pre-season testing on Monday and are set to start training this week.

The Daily Echo understands a pre-season fixture list is being drawn up for the club and a new kit is set to be launched by the middle of July.

Cherries’ first league game comes against West Bromwich Albion at Vitality Stadium on Saturday, August 7.