Sampson, Johnson & Real Madrid: Cobblers on the web

Last updated : 06 March 2011 By County Ground

The club were the subject of two excellent blogs even before the sacking of Ian Sampson was announced on Wednesday.

David Bevan had written, in the aftermath of what would turn out to be Sampson's final game, that the memory of his side's win at Liverpool seemed a long way away for the under-pressure boss.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2011/mar/02/northampton-burton-albion-liverpool-anfield

Meanwhile BBC blogger Paul Fletcher was getting to know about the unlikely link between Northampton Town and Real Madrid.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2011/03/from_northampton_town_to_real.html#284297

Sampson's departure was generally seen as fair call from the club hierarchy albeit tinged with regret due to his long association with Town. The man himself made his feelings known through the League Managers Association.

http://www.leaguemanagers.com/news/news-6767.html

Likewise there was general praise for the appointment of Gary Johnson as Sampson's successor, a man who knows the lower leagues well but who just a couple of years ago was being touted for some fairly tasty jobs. His first game in charge brought defeat against Shrewsbury and, Johnson told the official club website, few surprises.

http://www.ntfc.co.uk/page/MatchReaction/0,,10425~2293962,00.html