FORMER Colchester United manager Phil Parkinson has been named as the new boss of League One club Sunderland.

Parkinson, who led the U's to a historic promotion to the Championship in 2006, has been without a club since leaving Bolton Wanderers in August, has agreed a deal until 2022 at the Stadium of Light.

Parkinson said: "It is both a privilege and immense responsibility to be appointed manager of this great club.

"This is a good squad of players and I relish the challenge of working with them to achieve our goal of promotion from League One."

Colchester was Parkinson’s first managerial job, after he took over in the hot seat from Steve Whitton at Layer Road in 2003.

The 51-year-old spent more than three years with Colchester, guiding them to a historic promotion to the second tier in the 2005-06 season.

Parkinson went on to manage the likes of Hull City, Charlton Athletic and Bradford City before taking charge of Bolton, where he spent three years and led them to promotion to the Championship in his first season.

He resigned from his Trotters role in August, with them languishing at the bottom of the table after being deducted 12 points.

Parkinson was reunited with his successful U’s 2005-06 squad in May for their Sid Broomfield Trophy charity game against their Southend United counterparts at Roots Hall.

He will now take over in the Sunderland hot seat where he succeeds Jack Ross, who was sacked by the Black Cats earlier this month.