Phil Parkinson is no stranger to controversy when it comes to his former employers Colchester United and the Charltom boss was ready to hit headlines again as Tuesday`s important clash drew to a close.
Although opposing manager Aidy Boothroyd called a heated exchange between past and present U`s incumbents daft at full-time, he defended the melodramatic altercation, saying Parkinson was simply “protecting his players.”
Colchester were already reduced to ten men, having seen Kevin Lisbie walk for an alleged headbutt, and with the game so narrow, Parkinson ran down the touchline and gestured that a player, defender John White, he first blooded in United colours should also follow.
U’s manager Aidy Boothroyd, initially reluctant to be drawn on the issue cagily told BBC Radio Essex: “I was upset about something he did, but he`s an alright fella; I don`t have a problem with him and I`ll go have a drink with him.”
However, when prompted, Boothroyd admitted that the passionate exchange was over the issue with full back White, when pressed at interview: “As a manager, you can live and die by games like this and from my point of view – just like when we beat them three-nil [earlier in the season] – they beat us and we have to rake it on the chin. He`s trying to protect his own players just like I protect mine so I don`t have a problem with him.”
Tuesday`s close one-nil win was a key victory for the hosts in their hopes for automatic promotion from League One and deprived Colchester the points they needed to sustain their own play-off ambitions.
It was also the first time Parkinson has tasted victory over his former Colchester charges in several attempts since acrimoniously resigning following the Essex side`s unlikely Championship promotion in 2006. He notably suffered at the hands of one-time United striker Chris Iwelumo, who scored four goals in the famous 5-1 drubbing which all-but confirmed the end of his torrid tenure at Hull City’s KC Stadium. 
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Think Aidy would have done the same if it was the other way round. Interesting how the Charlton fans feel about Parky – certainly doesn’t seem popular!
I’m sure Boothroyd was right not to get overworked on the issue!