Relegation-threatened EFL club sack Premier League cult hero as manager

Northampton Town have sacked Kevin Nolan as manager, the club have confirmed.

The League One side have announced they have parted ways with the 43-year-old after 15 months in charge.

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It follows a run of just one win in their last 16 league matches dating back to before Christmas.

Nolan, who played for Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham in the Premier League, was appointed at Sixfields in December 2024 after leaving his role as England Under-20s assistant manager.

He guided the Cobblers to a 19th place finish in the third-tier last season but they are facing a relegation battle again this season.

Following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to AFC Wimbledon, Northampton sit second from bottom and three points off safety in 23rd.

Technical director Colin Calderwood has been placed in charge of the first-team ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Burton Albion.

Northampton statement

In a statement, Northampton said: “Northampton Town Football Club have parted company with manager Kevin Nolan.

“Technical director Colin Calderwood will take charge of first team matters until further notice, assisted by Ian Sampson.”

Meanwhile, chairman Kelvin Thomas added: “We are sorry to have to take this decision, but unfortunately as we all know, football is very results based.

“We will always be grateful to Kevin for his hard work here, he helped keep us up last season and we enjoyed a strong first half of this season but since Christmas the sequence of performances and results have led us to believe a change is in the best interests of all concerned.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Colin’s experience, supported by Ian Sampson and the rest of the staff to look after matters on an interim basis.

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“Kevin leaves with our thanks and our best wishes and we wish him well for the future.”

Nolan won 22 of his 70 matches as manager after succeeding Jon Brady in the role last season.

This season saw the club reach the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy, where they were beaten by Luton Town.

Nolan also previously revealed the club had missed out on a deadline day signing after a player ‘forgot’ to sign their contract.

Meanwhile, Calderwood will take charge of a side for the first time since leaving Cambridge United in January 2020.

He returned to Northampton as technical director at the start of last year.

It followed a spell in the same role alongside serving as Brady’s assistant manager between 2021 and 2023.

The 61-year-old is now aiming to avoid dropping into League Two for the first time in three years.

More to follow.