[Lord Snooty]

July 19:

So we were just coming out of lockdown for the first time. Town had beaten West Brom and secured a place in the Championship for the next season. And I'd just been to see my mum for the first time in months and was just setting off home when, on this date in 2020, the news came through on my phone that Town had sacked Danny Cowley.

I thought it was a joke at first. Quite unbelievable. His brother Nicky Cowley was also given the elbow, with chairman potless Phil Hodgkinson saying.....

I would like to place my thanks on record to Danny and Nicky for their hard work and dedication towards securing the club’s place in the Sky Bet Championship for next season. That was the clear priority when they were appointed in September and we are very grateful that has been achieved. We all wish Danny and Nicky all the best for the future and they leave with my best wishes in their future endeavours.

However we have made this decision in the belief that, in the long term, it is in the best interests of the club as we move forward. We have a different vision for the way we operate, and how our ambitions can be achieved.

Danny Schofield will take charge of the last fixture of the season, away at Millwall.

What did you think at the time? The football had become crap after the restart, but the boys had done what they were brought in to do, avoid relegation. We were looking forward to the future. Now that future is very uncertain.

Twelve months on, Town signed Jon Russell on this date in 2021. It was a very underwhelming signing. Another one for the B team. He'd been on loan at Accrington Stanley (who're they?) last season. Wow! But he had come through the Chelsea Academy and we have had some good players from there before, so maybe he might turn out to be alright.

Leigh Bromby had this to say.....

We’re very happy to welcome Jon to the Club today. He’s a very interesting player who offers different qualities to the squad, and we believe there is still a lot that we can work with him on to help him improve.

From speaking with Jon, it became really apparent just how much he wanted this opportunity; he has a huge desire to be here. That’s a great starting point for any player, and the main quality we’re looking in for our First Team, B Team and Academy players.

I’m excited to see how Jon progresses working under Jon Worthington in the coming months.

He eventually got into the first team squad and what a brilliant signing he turned out to be. He even scored the Goal of the Season, but was strangely left out of the Play Off Final starting XI.