Chris Hogg set for Northampton Town job
Former Norwich assistant Chris Hogg is expected to be named Northampton Town’s new manager, according to The Pink'un. The 41-year-old will succeed Kevin Nolan, who left Sixfields in early March.
Colin Calderwood had been interim boss after Nolan’s departure but was unable to prevent Northampton finishing bottom of League One. With the club preparing for life in League Two, the hierarchy have identified Hogg as the man to lead their rebuild.
Hogg’s coaching journey from Ipswich to Norwich
Hogg’s playing career was mostly in Scotland with Hibernian before he moved into coaching at Ipswich Town’s academy. He progressed to managing the under-18s and under-23s, then served as first-team coach under Paul Lambert.
He spent 18 months in charge of Newcastle United’s under-23s before linking up with Liam Manning, a close friend from Ipswich, as his assistant at Milton Keynes Dons in 2021. They guided the Dons to a third-place finish and a play-off semi-final in their first season.
After a tougher following season and their dismissal in December 2022, Hogg reunited with Manning at Oxford United and then Bristol City. Their work at Bristol City earned the club its first Championship play-off spot in 17 years during the 2024/25 season.
Hogg’s Norwich exit and coaching ambitions
Short Carrow Road spell
Hogg joined Norwich alongside Manning in 2025 but left after just six months following a poor start that saw the Canaries 23rd in the Championship table. Manning was dismissed in November 2025, with Hogg departing at the same time.
Determined to forge his own path
Unlike Manning, who moved on to Huddersfield Town, Hogg chose to pursue a head coach role independently. In a March interview with Sky Sports, he said: "Liam always knew I would forge my own path at some point."
He added, "I was not happy with my career. I did everything that I could to be the best, never drank alcohol, and did hot yoga before it became popular. But as a player, I had limitations. As a coach, there are not those same limitations."
"It is not about me physically; it is about how I treat people, how I behave, my knowledge of the game and how you impart that on people. That is why I want to maximise everything that I can in my coaching and get to the highest level I can."
"The top might just be helping a group of people fulfil their potential and enjoy the work. It is not about status; it is more about meaning."