Cobblers sack Sampson

Thursday, 03/03/2011

by Ryan Percival, Shoot's Northampton blogger

Northampton Town dismissed manager Ian Sampson yesterday, ending his 17-year association with the club.

After no wins in seven games and with the Cobblers sitting 16th in League Two, Chairman David Cardoza believes it is time for change.

Sampson arrived at the club in 1994, on loan from his native Sunderland. The move was made permanent after just eight matches and he became a key figure in the heart of the defence making 449 appearances in the claret and white.

After ending his playing days in 2004 ‘Sammo’ was given the job as Youth Coach at Sixfields.

Two years later Sampson got his first taste in management when he was placed in temporary charge following the sacking of John Gorman.

He didn’t get the job on a permanent basis as Stuart Gray took the reins, but he did get a place in the dugout, as Gray’s right-hand-man.

In 2009 Sampson found himself in temporary charge again after Stuart Gray had been shown the door. This time the top job was his and David Cardoza described ‘Sammo’ as ‘the best man for the job’.

Disappointment at missing out on the play-offs in his first season meant there were huge expectations this time around.

And despite delivering the greatest result in the history of Northampton Town, beating Liverpool at Anfield, the bread and butter is what matters and nine wins in 33 games just isn’t good enough.

The Cobblers team is not made up of world beaters but it is a side that, on paper, should be beating the likes of Burton, Morecambe and Barnet.

People may argue that Sampson wasn’t given enough time but in the modern game you don’t have that much time, especially when you have spent money, as he did when purchasing Shaun Harrad in January.

In opinion we need to forget the sentimental value of a club legend at the helm and get someone in that can change the fortunes at Sixfields.

The wise head of Malcolm Crosby has been placed in temporary charge as the search for a new gaffer begins.

Gary Johnson, Andy Scott, Phil Parkinson, Mark Cooper, Justin Edinburgh, Paul Trollope, Peter Taylor, Martin Allen, Sean Dyche, Kevin Blackwell, Jim Magilton, Des Lyttle, Mark McGhee; I’ve heard them all.

Ian Sampson will never be forgotten in Northampton; a true cult hero.

• 

• Have your say