PHIL Parkinson is confident his Bradford City legacy remains untarnished ahead of tomorrow’s reunion.

The former Bantams boss has kept a deliberately low profile ahead of the Bolton game.

But on the eve of City’s visit, Parkinson insisted he had left successor Stuart McCall a solid base to work from.

Parkinson said: “Basically, my record as a manager at Bradford stands up. Not only that, so does the work that myself, the staff and the players put in to turn that club around still stands up.

“The effort, the honesty and the commitment that people showed was incredible because it was a really hard job.

“I left Bradford City in their strongest financial position since they came out of the Premier League.

“We built the club up to the point that when two German investors were looking for someone to buy and had many options, some couldn’t be given away, and they decided to part with a large chunk of money on this one.

“What they bought was what had been built in the last five years. That is a great tribute to myself, my staff, Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn.

“You never know what kind of reception you’ll get but I have to focus on Bolton Wanderers, tactics and selection.”

Parkinson also defended himself against the suggestions that only a small number of players remained for the next manager when he made his Valley Parade exit in June.

“If you get involved in that, there will always be certain elements who try and put their own things out there, which are not necessarily true,” he added.

“Stuart has gone on record to say we left a very good group of professionals there and there were quite a few players’ contracts which had options that had not been exercised by the time I left but were ready to do so.

“The squad was a good one at Bradford. In any summer it’s an exciting time for fans to see players come and go – there were 20 leave here and we’ve brought in 12 so far. Oldham had four and brought in 20.

“That is what the summer is all about. Sometimes the worst thing for a manager is to get a job and all the places are filled.

“You need a job where there is an opportunity to put your own mark on it and Stuart has done that very well, so credit to him. But it was a good base to build from.”

Many City fans still feel unhappy at the manner of Parkinson’s departure. He can understand the emotion but believes – as he said when he left – that it was the right moment as a new era began under Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus last night, Parkinson said: “I wasn’t able to say a lot when I left because I had agreed a press release from Edin and I wanted to respect that.

“It might have come over a bit cold and clinical but that was the reason.

“I just think when the new owners came in, it was the time for me to move on. It was also the right time for the new owners to make their mark with Bradford.

“I did say at the time they would be great owners for the club and they have shown that in the short term. In the long term, I feel they are going to be the people to take Bradford forward.

“Stuart and Greg Abbott have done great so far and the squad is as good as any. Look at the strength they have got.

“To be fair, Julian and Mark wouldn’t have been able to do that. The club did need fresh investment; you’re not going to sell a player and have a cup run every year.”