Adam Clayton speaks on decision to take up a role at National League side Hartlepool United alongside Lee Clark.
The 37 year old, who in March 2026 was sacked by Matlock Town, links up with the Pools, becoming their assistant first team head coach.
His coaching career began a year earlier, when he was named interim player-manager of Matlock Town following the departure of Ryan Cresswell until the end of the 2024/25 season.
He was unable to keep the club up, but still got the job on a permanent basis in April 2025, then got sacked on the 27th of December 2025, despite the club being 3rd in the Northern Premier League East Division table, but seven points behind league leaders Redcar Athletic.
In a surprise turn of events two days later, Clayton was reinstated by Matlock as their manager, but a 4–2 defeat to Redcar Athletic, which saw their opposition win the league title, proved to be Clayton’s final game in charge, sacked again by the club.
🤝 Welcome to Hartlepool United, Adam Clayton!
Clayton joins Lee Clark’s backroom staff as Assistant First Team Head Coach 👊
— Hartlepool United FC (@Official_HUFC) June 14, 2026
The club said in a statement: Hartlepool United is delighted to confirm the appointment of Adam Clayton as Assistant First Team Head Coach.
Clayton has agreed a two-year contract at Victoria Park, with the Club holding the option of a further year, subject to the relevant approvals.
His arrival represents another important step in the continued development of the Club’s football department ahead of the 2026/27 National League campaign.
He joins First Team Head Coach Lee Clark’s backroom team alongside First Team Coach Gary Liddle, adding further experience, expertise and leadership to the football operation ahead of the new season.
Clayton arrives at Pools following a distinguished playing career spanning almost two decades and more than 500 senior appearances across the Premier League, Championship and English Football League.
A product of Manchester City’s Academy, Clayton established himself as one of the Championship’s most respected midfielders during a career that included successful spells with Leeds United, Huddersfield Town and Middlesbrough.
After making 85 appearances and scoring 11 goals for Huddersfield Town, Clayton secured a move to Middlesbrough in 2014 and went on to enjoy the most successful period of his playing career on Teesside.
Across six seasons at the Riverside Stadium, he made 213 appearances, helped Middlesbrough secure promotion to the Premier League in 2016 and went on to represent the Club 29 times in the top flight.
The former England Under-20 international also represented Birmingham City, Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City and Rochdale during a career that saw him work under a number of highly respected managers, including Simon Grayson, Aitor Karanka, Tony Pulis, Garry Monk and Neil Warnock.
Clayton previously played at Huddersfield Town following the Club’s promotion to the Championship in 2012.
Having made more than 500 senior appearances during a career spanning almost two decades, Clayton began his coaching journey with Matlock Town in 2024, progressing from Player-Coach to Interim Player-Manager before later taking charge on a permanent basis.
Speaking after joining Hartlepool United as Assistant First Team Head Coach, Adam Clayton said: “I’m delighted to be joining Pools. When I spoke with Lee and Chris Maxwell, it quickly became clear that there is a real vision for where this Football Club wants to go and a genuine determination to be successful.
“I’ve spent a long time in football and have been fortunate enough to work at some excellent clubs throughout my career. You get a feel very quickly for the direction a club is heading and I was hugely impressed by the plans that have been put in place here.
“You can already see that ambition through the work that’s been done this summer. The additions of Jordan Hugill, Corey McKeown, Jack Nolan and Brooklyn Ilunga are exciting for everyone connected with the Club and show the direction Pools wants to go.
“The opportunity to work alongside Lee again was a huge factor in my decision. We first worked together at Huddersfield Town and I’ve always had a huge amount of respect for him.
“He’s a fantastic coach, somebody who knows exactly what he wants from his teams and someone I thoroughly enjoyed working with as a player. To have the opportunity to work alongside him again was something that really appealed to me.
“I’m passionate about coaching and helping players develop. I can’t wait to get out on the training pitch, start working with the group and do everything I can to help the Football Club achieve its ambitions.
“There is a real sense of excitement around the place and I’m looking forward to being part of what I believe can be a very exciting chapter for Pools.”
Having previously worked together at Huddersfield Town, Lee Clark moved to bring the former Premier League midfielder to Victoria Park, recognising the experience, leadership and football knowledge he can add both on the training pitch and within the dressing room.
Lee Clark, First Team Head Coach at Hartlepool United said: “Adam was somebody I wanted to bring to the Football Club from the moment the opportunity arose.
“We worked together at Huddersfield Town and I’ve followed his career closely ever since. He went on to have an outstanding playing career and everything he achieved in the game was built on hard work, professionalism and a real understanding of football.
“He is an extremely intelligent football person. He’s played at the highest level, worked under some outstanding managers and has a tremendous knowledge of the game from both a playing and coaching perspective.
“He will be a huge asset for us on the training pitch and in the dressing room. The players will benefit enormously from his experience and the knowledge he has built up throughout his career.
“Just as importantly, he will play a key role in helping deliver the coaching methods and tactical approach we want to implement at Pools. We share many of the same beliefs about the game and I know he will make a significant contribution to the work we are doing every day.
“We’ve worked hard to build a strong football department and Adam is another important addition to that. I’m delighted to welcome him to the Club and I’m looking forward to working alongside him again.”
👏 More than 500 senior appearances🧠 Premier League and EFL experience🤝 Previously worked under Lee Clark at Huddersfield Town
Adam Clayton begins his next chapter 👇
— Hartlepool United FC (@Official_HUFC) June 14, 2026
Chris Maxwell, Head of Football Operations at Bromby & Partners, said: “Adam is an outstanding addition to the football department and somebody we are delighted to welcome to Pools.
“Working alongside Lee, Bromby & Partners undertook a thorough process to ensure we identified the right person to support him and strengthen the coaching structure around the First Team. Adam stood out throughout that process.
“When you look at his career, the credentials speak for themselves. More than 500 senior appearances, promotion to the Premier League, over 200 appearances for Middlesbrough and experience of working under some of the most respected head coaches in English football.
“However, it was not just his playing career that impressed us. His experiences at Matlock Town, where he moved into coaching and management, demonstrated a real understanding of what is required to support a Head Coach and contribute positively within a high-performance football environment.
“Those experiences have given Adam an exceptional understanding of the game and, throughout our conversations, it became clear that he possesses all the qualities required to make a significant contribution to our coaching team. His coaching capabilities came very highly recommended and we believe he will be a real asset to the Football Club.
“The appointments of Gary Liddle as First Team Coach and Adam Clayton as Assistant First Team Head Coach provide Lee with a coaching team that combines experience, leadership and a real understanding of the demands of the professional game across multiple levels of the football pyramid.
“Since our appointment, Bromby & Partners has worked closely with the Club to strengthen every area of the football department and Adam represents another important step in that process. We believe he will be a tremendous asset to Lee, the players and the Football Club as a whole as we continue building towards the new season.”
Youth career1996–2008 – Manchester City
Senior2008–2010 – Manchester City2009–2010 → Carlisle United (loan) – 36 games (3 goals)2010–2012 – Leeds United – 50 games (6 goals)2010–2011 → Peterborough United (loan) – 8 games (0 goals)2011 → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) – 8 games (1 goal)2012–2014 – Huddersfield Town – 94 games (12 goals)2014–2020 – Middlesbrough – 241 games (1 goal)2020–2021 – Birmingham City – 16 games (0 goals)2022–2023 – Doncaster Rovers – 35 games (0 goals)2023 – Bradford City – 16 games (0 goals)2023–2024 – Rochdale – 29 games (0 goals)2024 – Liversedge2024–2025 – Matlock Town
International2009 – England U20 – 4 games (0 goals)
Here’s how fans reacted after Adam Clayton speaks on decision to take up a role at Hartlepool United…
@adampinder0711: Back room team coming together nicely let’s have a keeper coach next. Guessing that’s the end of Featherstone now as well then unless he’s hanging on for a role if he doesn’t get a managers job.
@garethblackwood: A Beautiful Day for him 🎸 🔵⚪️
@tommy_white111: If he’s half as good a coach as he was a player then we’re onto a good one 🙌🏻💙🤍
@Daniel_kidd7: Might have to have a day out here on Boro’s off days.
@wanchop33:Great appointmentHighly thought of young coachWelcome Adam
@bennymac1994: cant fault anything that’s being done by the club currently rob literally from the off field appointments to the retained list and the players we’ve just brought in all appears to be heading in the right direction and above all shows ambition which we’ve severely been lacking
@northeastste: Just need a keeper coach now – to complete the coaching set-up.
Steve Hopkins: Fluffin ell… just saw this… brilliant in my eyes… welcome Adam and cheers for coming here… Landon doing the biz.. UTP PTID NSD
Garry Robinson: I’m excited and hopeful for pools new season it’s been a positive preseason of signings. From a boro fan
Lee Rafa Warmington: Class this and the recruitment so far has been positive aswel 👏 genuinely looking forward to the new season even more now
Andrew Mincher: Welcome Adam good addition to our new era utp
Peter Mitchell: Blinking Nora….. Well done Pools
