Pete Wild explains Adam Clayton Hartlepool United decision - and backs him to become EFL manager one day
Coach Adam Clayton left Hartlepool United earlier this month.
Pete Wild has explained the departure of Adam Clayton from his Hartlepool United coaching staff - and backed him to become a manager in the EFL one day.
Last week Pools confirmed the departure of assistant first team coach Clayton, the former Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town midfielder was named as part of former head coach Lee Clark’s coaching staff during the summer after he spent time as manager of Northern Premier League club Matlock Town last season.
Clayton went on to take joint-interim charge of Pools for a short spell alongside Gary Liddle when Clark stepped down in the aftermath of a home defeat against National League rivals Worthing in September - and remained with the club during the early weeks of new head coach Wild’s Victoria Park reign. But he has now departed.
Explaining the decision, Wild also said he believes Clayton has what it takes to be a manager in the EFL in the coming years.
Wild, speaking at his pre-match press conference at Maiden Castle, told the Mail: “Well, when we came in, I think the initial thought process is that I was going to bring two other staff with me and then from my side of things, that didn't materialise. So we inherited Adam and Gary Liddle and we were looking at what we needed.
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“At some point, we weren't going to be able to carry four staff and we just looked at what we needed. Adam was absolutely brilliant for us. It wasn't in terms of his knowledge but I felt like we needed somebody who knew the area, as we get to now learn the area, that Lidds knew the area and knew local football in the area and knew this club well and we felt like we needed somebody to help us with that. So it's two into one, sadly.
“I think Clayts will end up being a manager in the next two to three years in the Football League. I think he offered so much to me but ultimately, the pressure from the club was that we had to lose one of them and we just felt that with Gary's knowledge of the local area, that's the way we went. It wasn't a slur in any way on Adam.”
Clayton began his coaching journey at Matlock Town in 2024, progressing from player-coach to manager during a 17-month spell at the Northern Premier League side. Assistant head coach Dave Conlon and first team coaches Gary Liddle and Adam Smith form part of Wild’s backroom staff at Pools, who host Wealdstone on Saturday.
Your next Hartlepool United read: Pete Wild explains his Hartlepool United approach - and why fans may need to be patient