NIGEL CLOUGH has stepped down as Burton Albion manager.
The 14-cap England international, 54, will be replaced at the Pirelli Stadium by Brewers defender Jake Buxton.
Nigel Clough will be replaced by Jake Buxton as Burton Albion managerCredit: Twitter @burtonalbionfc
Buxton, 35, will take on the role as player-manager within the coming weeks with the club sat 12th in League One.
His playing contract was due to expire at the end of the season.
Clough himself started his managerial career as player-manager at the East Midlands club in 1998 and was in charge for 11 years.
After four seasons with Derby and two at Sheffield United, he returned in 2015.
The son of legendary manager Brian helped the Brewers into the Championship in his first season back.
And last year he guided Burton to the League Cup semi-finals where they were beaten by treble-winners Manchester City.
Across his two spells he has overseen the most a large part of the successful period in the club’s 70-year history.
Chairman Ben Robinson was full of appreciation for Clough – as well assistant Gary Crosby and chief scout Simon Clough who also depart – as he cited Covid-19 as the reason behind the decision.
He said: “Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic is having a dramatic impact on all football clubs, meaning we have to make difficult financial decisions going forward in order to safeguard the club and ensure it still exists for the supporters and the benefit of the community for generations to come.
“Jake Buxton is the natural choice to take over as player-manager as he knows the club inside and out. He continues our long tradition of giving young managers an opportunity and I’m sure he will go on to be as successful as he has been on the field.”
Clough added: “It has been an incredible two decades for Burton Albion and it has been a pleasure to share those times with everyone and I want to say a big thank you to all the players, coaches, staff and supporters for being a massive part of that.
“From winning the Unibond, to gaining promotion to the Championship and then against all the odds surviving for another year was beyond all our wildest dreams.
“We couldn’t leave the club in better hands than with Jake, who as captain has shown himself to be a respected leader on and off the pitch. It’s a great opportunity for him and there is no better club at which to make your start in management.
“We hope that by stepping away it helps the club with the financial pressures in these unprecedented times, and that it will also help the club secure the jobs of as many of the staff as possible going forward. We are sure Jake will benefit from the experience and continuity of having as many of the current backroom staff as possible supporting him.”
Clough oversaw large parts of the Brewers’ most successful period in the club historyCredit: Craig_Brough
He guided his side to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup in 2019 where they were thumped by Manchester CityCredit: Reuters
Nigel Clough in awe of ‘incredible’ Manchester City and says watching them live is a lot scarier than in front of the TV
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
