Kevin Nolan sacking 'inevitable' after poor run

The departure of the Northampton Town manager has been described as "inevitable" by fans.

Kevin Nolan was sacked on Monday following a run of one win in 16 league matches.

The Cobblers are 23rd in League One, three points from safety, having scored only 31 goals in 36 matches — the second lowest total in the league.

"I think [the sacking] became inevitable. [The club] were sitting in 12th at Christmas, and since then, the wheels have come off in spectacular fashion," season ticket holder Martin Maloney told Liz Jeeves on BBC Radio Northampton. "A change was going to have to happen. It had become very, very toxic."

Since December 2024, Nolan managed the club for 70 games, winning 22, drawing 17 and losing 31, with his final match a 1-0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon.

Former Cobblers player Martin Smith said Nolan's dismissal was disappointing but understandable.

"You really wanted him to succeed. You just know he was giving it everything," he said.

"I think the players were still on board. But you look at the results recently and it's been a constant downturn and really you couldn't see where it was changing.

"It's disappointing but ultimately not a shock the way things were going."

Another supporter, Keeley Wilson-Townsend, said the team's struggles had been building for some time.

"It was no surprise to me. It all started to unravel when we got thumped at Burton [on 26 December]," she said.

"The recruitment over the summer was very defender- and central midfielder-heavy and I was wondering where the creativity and the goals were going to come from."

Technical director Colin Calderwood has been put in charge on an interim basis, assisted by Ian Sampson. Both are ex-Northampton managers.

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