The film switches back to Clough's time at Derby late in the film, and shows how his combustible personality and distrust of authority lost him (and Peter Taylor) their jobs. Constantly clashing with County chairman Sam Longson (a suitably slimy performance from Jim Broadbent), who resented Clough's fame and influence, he eventually resigned due to perceived boardroom interference - though he was just using this a ploy to get Longson sacked, and never believed his resignation would be accepted.