The club was a perennial struggler and had repeatedly had to apply for re-election to the Football League, having finished in the bottom two of the Fourth Division five times in the past six seasons. After sacking
Geoff Twentyman, the Board appointed the 30-year-old
Brian Clough in October 1965 to his first managerial role. He accepted the job and immediately asked former
Middlesbrough goalkeeper
Peter Taylor (then managing non-League Burton Albion) to join him as his assistant. Also, Clough offered the trainer spot to
Jimmy Gordon a former
Middlesbrough assistant during his player stage in that team, however, Gordon rejected the offer and continued to work with
Blackburn Rovers as its club trainer. Teenage midfielder
John McGovern joined the club after Taylor scouted him at Central Park. ==Squad==