Nigel Clough steps down as Burton Albion boss
Clough believes stepping down will help ease financial burden on club during coronavirus pandemic
Monday 18 May 2020 16:14, UK
Nigel Clough has stepped down as Burton Albion manager and will be replaced by club captain Jake Buxton, who is taking the role of player-manager.
It brings an end to Clough's second spell with the Brewers. He first joined them in 1998 in the second tier of non-league and returned in 2015 to help win promotion to the Championship.
The 54-year-old stepped down to help ease the financial burden on the club, which is currently struggling due to the effects of the coronavirus, something which he also felt would stop the club continuing to be competitive in next season.
Burton were 12th when the League One season was suspended on March 13, 11 points off the play-off spots.
Clough said: "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.
"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."
Buxton, who is also in his second spell at the club, takes charge at the Pirelli Stadium, having played 30 times for them in all competitions this season.
He will take over as a player-manager, and Clough stated that the club "couldn't be left in better hands".
Assistant manager Gary Crosby and chief scout Simon Clough have also left the club.
