Northampton Town have parted ways with manager Kevin Nolan following a wretched sequence that yielded just a single victory from 16 league fixtures, reports BritPanorama.
The 43-year-old former Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham midfielder was relieved of his duties on Monday, leaving the Cobblers languishing in 23rd position in League One. With three points separating them from safety, the club acted decisively to avoid dropping into League Two for the first time since 2023.
Nolan’s departure came just 24 hours after a 1-0 reverse at AFC Wimbledon extended their winless streak to seven matches, marking their fifth defeat in six outings. Chairman Kelvin Thomas acknowledged the difficult nature of the dismissal while emphasising the club’s hand had been forced by circumstances.
Thomas said: “We are sorry to have to take this decision, but unfortunately, as we all know, football is very results-based.” He expressed gratitude for Nolan’s efforts in securing survival during the previous campaign and noted the promising start to the current season. However, Thomas indicated that performances and outcomes since the festive period had convinced the board that change was necessary.
He added: “Kevin leaves with our thanks and our best wishes and we wish him well for the future.” Colin Calderwood, the club’s technical director and former Premier League player, has stepped into the breach on an interim basis. The 59-year-old brings considerable experience to the role, having previously managed Northampton between 2003 and 2006, guiding the East Midlands club to promotion from League Two during that spell.
Ian Sampson, himself a former Cobblers boss, will serve as Calderwood’s assistant during the transitional period. The pair inherit a squad facing 10 remaining fixtures this season, beginning with a home encounter against Burton Albion on Saturday. Northampton became the 10th League One club to change managers during the current campaign. Despite the mounting pressure, Nolan had remained defiant following Sunday’s defeat at Wimbledon, insisting he retained the appetite for the battle ahead.
In a season marked by instability, this managerial change reflects the unforgiving nature of football management at this level, where repeated failures often lead to swift consequences. As Northampton look to stabilise their season, the challenge now falls to Calderwood to ignite a flagging campaign and inspire a turnaround among a squad that finds itself in a precarious position.
