Well, that's exactly what Adam Clayton has done at non-league Matlock Town. The former Middlesbrough and Leeds United midfielder was let go on Saturday - and rehired as manager two days later. Matlock Town 'owned' the bizarre situation when announcing Clayton's return on Monday, saying it "may well come as a surprise" considering they mutually agreed to part ways on Saturday. A 3-0 defeat by Ossett United on Friday had cost the former Premier League player his first job in management, despite Matlock sitting third in the Northern Premier League Eastern Division table. On Saturday it was said that results had "fallen short of the standards expected", despite Matlock losing just two of their past six matches across all competitions.

Source: BBC December 30, 2025 17:20 UTC