Nigel Clough has today been reappointed as the manager of League One side Burton Albion. He returns for a second spell after successfully guiding the club up the leagues. He becomes the successor to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who left to join Queens Park Rangers last week.
The 49-year-old has enjoyed managerial roles with Derby County and Sheffield United since originally departing Pirelli Stadium in January 2009. However he is now back in familiar surroundings and the son of legend Brian told the official club website that he is delighted to be back,
“It’s nice to have got the first training session out of the way. It must be one of the first times since we left that a manager has had the chance to take over a club at the top of the League!
The club has definitely moved on a lot though since I was last here. It’s been a long six months and it’s probably been the first time in my 32 years in football that I haven’t had daily work.
The new fans can all speak to the old fans about exactly what I bring. I want to try and continue the progression of the team.
If somebody asked me what one of the problems over the past 6 years has possibly been during my management period, then I would say possibly the owners, but I don’t have that problem here!”
Clough also revealed that joined him in terms of coaching staff will be Gary Crosby and Andy Garner. He also revealed that he will work hard at trying to improve attendances at Pirelli Stadium and that the current playing and coaching staff will all be given a chance to prove themselves.
Chairman Ben Robinson revealed that there was no sentiment behind this decision, insisting that he was the ‘ideal candidate’,
“We wanted to get somebody in that can continue straight away from where Jimmy left off. He was the ideal candidate for me to come in and do this job.”
Clough’s first match of his second spell with by this weekend away to fourth-placed Gillingham, with his first home game coming seven days later versus Doncaster Rovers. Tuesday 1st March will already be a date that he’ll be counting down the days towards, as that is when he takes his new Burton side to Bramall Lane and face former club Sheffield United.
