Adam Clayton, a former Middlesbrough favourite, has been rehired by Matlock Town, just 48 hours after being fired from his first managerial position.
Clayton, who was a member of Boro’s 2016 promotion-winning squad, made his managerial debut at Matlock last season as interim player-manager.
Though Clayton was unable to save the club from relegation, he was appointed permanent manager in the summer. Matlock announced Clayton’s departure on Saturday, following a 3-0 loss to Ossett United the day before.
The result placed the Derbyshire team third in the Northern Premier Division One East table, seven points behind league leaders Redcar Athletic. They do, however, have two games on Emley, who is second.
Despite the surprise resignation, Clayton was suddenly reinstated on Monday, just 48 hours after the club statement indicated that his departure came because they had ‘fallen short of the standards required’.
All traces of the initial statement have now been deleted, and a new statement from the club’s owner, David Hilton, claims Clayton was released by the club to seek a higher-level opportunity.
The statement read: “After his release and negotiations with the other club and his family, Adam declined the offer of the new role and requested that he be restored at Matlock and allowed to complete what he had begun with us and the group of players he had recruited.
“The club concluded that, after last year’s changing door of players, and with only four months left in the current season, which finds us in a relatively strong league position, Adam was the best guy to assist us achieve our goal.
“His relationship and bond with myself, our board of directors, staff and his players is a strong one and is seen to be virtually irreplaceable at this stage of the season.”
To add to the confusion, the club has rehired Ryan Cresswell as Clayton’s new assistant manager. Cresswell was the previous Matlock manager who signed Clayton as a player, but was fired when Clayton took over the post.
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