Chairman couldn't avoid sacking

In his first major interview since his sacking nearly two weeks ago, the chairman backed Bell to enjoy success in management elsewhere and caretaker-manager Steve Kinniburgh to hold the fort and give the Steelmen the time they need to find the right choice as permanent successor.

Insisting it was simply a case of the results not coming after their poor start and early exit from the Emirates FA Cup, Noble told northantstelegraph.co.uk: “It was quite simple from our point of view. We have had two relegations in the two previous seasons and we came into this one needing some good results. After back-to-back relegations, we needed results and they didn’t come.”

“David is a great lad but the results didn’t go for him. We felt we made a good appointment when we made him the manager and it just didn’t work out. But I am sure that somewhere down the line, he will turn out to be a good manager somewhere."

Director of football Kinniburgh, pictured, has notched up three wins in a row after Sunday's 2-0 success at EVO-STIK League South rivals Romulus in the Buildbase FA Trophy and Noble told fans he hopes he can play a key role in any appointment before returning to focus on the next generation of stars coming through at Steel Park.

The ex-Kettering Town man stepped in after the departure of Gary Mills late last season and Noble believes he can carry on his good work on both fronts while giving the club the time to hunt for a successor.

“With the last two appointments, we moved quite quickly,” added the Steelmen chairman. “Steve has done this before, he knows the club inside and out and the one thing he will give us is a bit of stability and that is much-needed at the moment.

“And with him doing that, it means that we can have a look at what is out there, knowing the club is stable and pushing on. I do believe we should be doing a lot better than we have done so far this season. We will look at the long-term situation but in the short-term, Steve has stepped in and won three games in a row and has secured the club’s first win in an FA competition for four seasons.

“He is flying high and there’s no doubt that he has the future of this club in his hands when it comes to the academy. The infrastructure that he has put in place means he is able to do this for us at the moment and that is a testament to the work he has done since he came here nine months ago.

“If it was looking like it would be difficult for him then we would have moved a lot quicker but while he is coping with it, it gives us time. But Steve will be key in the search for a new manager, he must have a big say in it. And, whoever it is who comes in, should be happy to have someone like him there for them.”

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