When Gary Megson left the club in February 2006, he was put in temporary charge with Frank Barlow in a joint first team management role.
He and Barlow were named Managers of the Month for March 2006, when they went 10 games unbeaten, with 6 straight wins, including a 7–1 victory over Swindon Town at the City Ground.
McParland just missed out on equalling a club record of 7 straight wins when Forest fell to a 3–2 defeat at the hands of Hartlepool United.
McParland enjoyed a two-year spell in charge and, despite the appointment of Sven-Göran Eriksson as Director of Football, the club decided to retain his services.
On 7 January 2011 he took over as caretaker manager for the departed Keane,[5] and in his first game suffered a 7–0 defeat to Premier League side Chelsea.