Northampton Town have sacked manager Kevin Nolan after a dramatic collapse in form that has dragged the Cobblers into the League One relegation zone.
The decision was confirmed on Monday afternoon following a run of just one win in 16 league matches, a sequence that has left Northampton 23rd in the table and three points from safety.
The 43-year-old departs after 70 matches in charge, having been appointed in December 2024 on a two-and-a-half-year contract following the resignation of Jon Brady. While Nolan successfully guided the Cobblers to safety last season, a dismal run of results since Christmas ultimately proved too much for the club hierarchy.
Northampton’s most recent setback, a 1-0 defeat away at AFC Wimbledon on Sunday, was the final straw after supporters voiced their frustration with the team’s performances. The Cobblers have collected just eight points from a possible 48 since Christmas and have scored only 31 goals in 36 league matches, the second-lowest tally in League One.
Chairman Kelvin Thomas confirmed the decision in a club statement, thanking Nolan for his efforts but admitting the recent run of results left the board with little choice.
“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.”
Former Northampton managers Colin Calderwood and Ian Sampson will take temporary charge of training and first-team duties while the club begins its search for a permanent replacement.
The situation adds another layer of intrigue to the League One relegation battle and also marks the latest managerial departure in a division that has seen a high turnover this season. Northampton are now the tenth club in the 24-team league to change manager during the 2025/26 campaign.
Impact on the League One picture
Ironically, Nolan had insisted after Sunday’s defeat that he was ready to fight to keep the club in the division, underlining the scale of the challenge Northampton face.
“I walk towards the fire, never away from it. We’re in a fight and I’m looking forward to it.
“That’s why I’m here and that’s why I was brought here 15 months ago – to keep us in the league. We haven’t been able to stay in this league for four years in a row for 60 years and that shows how difficult the job is.”
Instead, the Cobblers now head into the final stretch of the season under interim management, hoping a change in the dugout can spark the turnaround required to avoid a return to League Two.
With eight matches remaining and survival still within reach, Northampton’s next appointment could prove decisive in determining whether they remain part of the League One landscape next season.
Not surprised
The sacking can’t come as a surprise. Nolan’s Northampton were woeful at the Bank a few weeks ago, and they came seemingly happy to be beaten.
The Cobblers are one of the sides that have been vocal in their battle against the financial landscape, and Nolan has struggled to recruit, which has cost him his job. I thought they looked decent at their place earlier in the season, and had they hung on to Ethan Wheatley, maybe they’d be more competitive.
Sadly, with a League Two budget comes League Two ambition, and for me, this sacking is more a reflection of their standing, rather than a fundamental failing on Nolan’s behalf.