3 Kevin Nolan replacements Northampton Town must consider ASAP | OneFootball

We look at three managers that should be on Northampton Town's radar following the sacking of Kevin Nolan.

Northampton Town are starting the hunt for a new manager following the sacking of Kevin Nolan on Monday.

Nolan took over at Northampton in December 2024 following the resignation of Jon Brady, and he successfully kept the club in League One last season, leading them to a 19th-placed finish.

The Cobblers enjoyed a decent first half of this season under Nolan, and they sat as high as 12th as recently as mid-December, but a run of just one win in 16 games has seen them slide down the table in recent months.

Despite an improved second half showing, Northampton were beaten 1-0 at AFC Wimbledon on Sunday in what proved to be Nolan's final game in charge, and he departs with the club sitting 23rd in the table, three points from safety.

With a crucial game against fellow strugglers Burton Albion to come at Sixfields on Saturday, technical director Colin Calderwood has taken over on an interim basis, and a positive result could earn the 61-year-old an extended spell in the role.

However, Northampton could decide to look externally as they search for the right man to guide them to safety, and here are three managers who should be on their radar.

Alan Sheehan

With discontent among supporters increasing, Northampton may target a candidate with knowledge of the club to help rebuild the connection with the fanbase, and former Swansea City head coach Alan Sheehan could fit the bill.

Sheehan scored one goal in 15 appearances for the Cobblers during a brief spell at Sixfields in the 2020-21 season, and while he may not be remembered too fondly given that he was part of the squad that was relegated from League One, his managerial record could make him a strong contender.

With the club plummeting towards the relegation zone, Sheehan initially took over at Swansea on an interim basis in February 2025, and a stunning run of form in the latter part of the season saw the Welsh outfit secure a top half finish in the Championship.

Sheehan was handed the permanent job shortly before the end of last season, but unfortunately for the Irishman, he could not maintain his impressive caretaker impact, and he was sacked by the Swans in November with the club sitting 18th in the table.

The 39-year-old was reportedly in the frame for the Oxford United job earlier this season before withdrawing from the process, and although he may be reluctant to manage in League One, he may be tempted by the opportunity to save his former club from the drop.

Ryan Lowe

Nolan is not the only manager to have lost his job in League One this season, with Ryan Lowe also out of work after being dismissed by Wigan Athletic.

Having left his role at Championship side Preston North End just one game into last season, Lowe took over at the Brick Community Stadium last March, and he looked to be a promising appointment for the Latics, but the move did not work out.

After a seven-game winless run that saw the club fall into the relegation zone, Wigan parted company with Lowe last month, but despite his disappointing spell in Lancashire, Northampton should consider offering the 47-year-old a swift return to management.

Even if Lowe is unable to preserve the Cobblers' League One status, he could be the perfect man to lead them back to the third tier at the first attempt, having previously won promotion from League Two on two occasions with Bury and Plymouth Argyle.

Mark Kennedy

It is fair to say that Northampton's decision to appoint Nolan last season was something of a surprise, and if chairman Kelvin Thomas is willing to take another gamble, former Lincoln City and Swindon Town manager Mark Kennedy could be a shrewd choice.

After beginning his managerial career with troubled League Two side Macclesfield Town, Kennedy took over at Lincoln in the summer of 2022, and he led them to a respectable 11th-placed finish in League One his first year in charge before being harshly sacked just over two months into the following season after an inconsistent start.

Kennedy won just three of his 16 games in charge during an underwhelming spell at Swindon Town last season before returning to Birmingham City as their Under-21s Professional Phase Coach in June, a role he left last month due to personal reasons.

While Kennedy has had a mixed managerial career, his Lincoln side were incredibly well-organised and difficult to beat, which could make him the ideal candidate for the Cobblers in their current predicament, providing he is ready to return to work following his exit from Birmingham.