With Keith Curle being released from his duties at Northampton Town on Wednesday, Under 18s coach Jon Brady has been placed in caretaker charge, to be assisted by Ian Sampson and Marc Richards. We take a look back at there carears.

Jon Brady

Jon Brady played for Hayes, Rushden & Diamonds, Woking, Chester City, Stevenage and Hereford United. He was part of the Diamonds squad that won the Conference title in 2000–01, scoring the winner at his future club Chester City on the final day of the season to make promotion mathematically certain. 

In his coaching career, Brady successfully managed Brackley Town between 2009 and 2015, winning seven trophies and breaking numerous records as manager of the club, becoming the longest serving and most successful manager in their history.

He joined the Cobblers as Under 16 coach in 2016 and was promoted to Under 18 coach in 2017.

Ian Sampson 

Former Cobblers manager is back in the dugout for the Cobblers as temporary assistant. 

Sampson’s first spell at the club was in December 1993. After retiring from playing in 2004, Ian had made 449 senior appearances for The Cobblers placing him second in the list of appearance makers behind Tommy Fowler.

During his playing days he enjoyed 2 play off finals at Wembley, and helped the club to 2 promotions before becoming first team coach in 2006.

Sampson enjoyed some early success in the role, by winning the League Two manager of the month award for January 2010. He would go on to guide Northampton to an 11th place finish in 2009/10.

In the 2010/11 season, Sampson guided the club to memorable win over Liverpool in the Carling Cup at Anfield. 

Marc Richards

A youth team player at Hednesford Town, he turned professional at Blackburn Rovers in 2000. He spent the 2001–02 season on loan at Crewe Alexandra, Oldham Athletic, and Halifax Town. He then spent much of the 2002–03 season on loan at Swansea City, before he was allowed to join Northampton Town in summer 2003. 

He scored eleven goals for the club in 2003–04, though was sent out on loan to Rochdale in the latter half of the 2004–05 campaign after he found himself struggling with injury. He joined Barnsley in August 2005, and went on to score twelve goals in 2005–06, helping the club win promotion to the Championship via the play-offs. Released at the end of the 2006–07 season, he signed with Port Vale in June 2007. 

After five goals in 2007–08, he became the club’s top-scorer for four seasons running with 11 goals in 2008–09, 22 goals in 2009–10, 20 goals in 2010–11, and 17 goals in 2011–12.

He signed with Chesterfield in May 2012, and played for the club in the 2014 final of the League Trophy, before helping them to win the League Two title in 2013–14. 

He returned to Northampton Town in May 2014, and finished as the club’s top-scorer for two consecutive seasons, helping Northampton to win the League Two title in 2015–16. 

He signed with Swindon Town in January 2018 and after one-and-a-half seasons with Swindon moved on to Cambridge United in August 2019. He joined non-league side Yeovil Town in January 2020. 

He moved on to St Ives Town seven months later.  Overall, he has scored more than 200 goals in around 700 professional appearances. He has also represented England at under-18 and under-20 levels.