Exclusive: Northampton Town plotting move for Boreham Wood manager | OneFootball

Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard has emerged firmly on the radar of newly-relegated League Two side Northampton Town, Football League World understands

Northampton Town will be looking to accelerate preparations for the 2026/27 League Two campaign with the impending permanent appointment of a new manager to replace interim boss Colin Calderwood following relegation from League One - and Football League World can exclusively reveal the name of one of the Cobblers' leading targets to fill the vacancy.

Northampton's three-year stay in League One came to an abrupt end in what proved a disastrous season at Sixfields Stadium, in which the side ultimately wound up finishing at the foot of the table with only nine victories and 35 points after losing each of their final 12 divisional outings.

An impressive start to the season would fail to continue and Town's form gradually worsened throughout the term, forcing a change in the managerial dugout in March when ex-Newcastle United and West Ham midfielder Kevin Nolan was relieved of his duties to be replaced by Calderwood on an interim basis until the end of the campaign.

Alongside Rotherham United, Port Vale and Exeter City, Northampton will now be returning to League Two for the first time since their promotion-winning third-placed finish in the 2022/23 season and plans to hire a permanent successor to Nolan are firmly underway heading into the summer months.

Over the weekend, Town chairman Kelvin Thomas revealed the club's intention to complete a fresh hire in the next fortnight. However, they could yet beat that timeline as Thomas eyes the appointment of a National League boss who has earned no shortage of plaudits in English football's fifth-tier in recent times.

Northampton Town eyeing Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard

Following Northampton's relegation to League Two, Football League World can exclusively reveal that the East Midlands outfit are setting their sights on the potential appointment of Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard.

Sources have disclosed that Garrard is very much in the frame to take over at the fourth-tier newcomers, and FLW understands that the 40-year-old is one of two names on the club's final two-man shortlist as key decision-makers mull over the ever-approaching decision.

This comes less than 24 hours after Boreham Wood side suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Rochdale in the National League play-off final, which was ultimately decided by penalties after Garrard's side surrendered a two-goal lead in the final 12 minutes of regular time following strikes either side of the interval from Matt Rush and gifted winger Abdul Abdulmalik.

Under Garrard's leadership, the Wood emerged as the standout surprise package of yet another thrilling National League campaign, finishing in fourth-place and advancing past both Carlisle United and Forest Green Rovers to reach the play-off final despite only achieving promotion from the sixth-tier last time out.

But Garrard, who has been in charge at Meadow Park for the entirety of his managerial career to date and has won 225 of his 549 matches to date across a lengthy and successful reign, could find himself weighing up his options after missing out on consecutive promotions from the National League South to League Two and appears to have made a real impression on the Northampton hierarchy.

Luke Garrard appointment could be a no-brainer for Northampton Town

Northampton may lack the depth of financial resources to attract too many managers with notable pedigree in the Football League, meaning an eye-catching up-and-comer like Garrard may present the best option to the Cobblers right now.

His record at Boreham Wood is certainly impressive and representative of a manager capable of making the transition to the EFL, having elevated the side beyond expectation this term.

Garrard has also displayed a clear ability to work with younger talent such as loanee goalkeeper Ted Curd, midfield pair Zak Brunt and Charlie O'Connell and, of course, the aforementioned Abdulmalik, who lit up yesterday's final at Wembley prior to being substituted in what may well turn out to be his final outing for the National League side ahead of inevitable transfer interest from higher up the footballing pyramid.

It would be no surprise to see Garrard prised away, too, and Northampton would be wise to get ahead of the curve and wrap up a deal for a manager who may yet field further interest in the coming weeks.