Community feel to Northampton was a huge pull for new boss Hogg
The community aspect of both the football club and the town was a significant factor in Chris Hogg’s decision to accept his first role in management with Northampton.
A coach since 2015, Hogg has had opportunities to become a first-team manager over the last decade but he was willing to be patient for the right club – and when Cobblers technical director Colin Calderwood came calling last month, he got a good feeling.
“It's always been about trying to arrive at this point, at the right time, with the right club and it just felt right to be at this point and try to manage a football club on my own,” said Hogg. "I didn't want to jump into the first opportunity that I got offered.
"I'm delighted to be here. It's been a long road. I've had various roles and I've coached from under-9s all the way up to the first-team and I've enjoyed climbing that ladder and learning about the craft of coaching.
"I wanted to go somewhere where I felt I could build something and work with good people and after conversations with Colin, Kelvin (Thomas) and James (Whiting), it was pretty clear that good people work here and I want to grow something and give the fans something to get behind. This is definitely the right time for me and I can't wait to get going.”
There were a number of reasons for Hogg’s decision to make the move into management with Northampton – but one in particular stood out.
"There's good people and good values at this club and they do things right in my opinion in terms of the connection they have with the community and that was a big thing for me when looking at opportunities,” explained the former England youth international.
"Football has lost its essence a little bit in my opinion, clubs have just become corporate machines, but Northampton has that connection with the community and I want to get involved in that and enhance it and build on it. I want to put a team on the pitch that connects with the people and that displays of the values of the town.
"I played here many moons ago and I've been back as opposition and you get a feel for a place and a community. When things are going well and the crowd get behind the team, there's a really good feeling. I'm really looking forward to the challenge."
On how the move came about, Hogg added: “I've come up against Colin with various teams and he's got an outstanding reputation in the game as a human. He reached out initially and then it went from there. It’s been a couple of weeks in the making but I’m delighted to be here.”