 Paynter playing forHartlepool United in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Paul Paynter[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1984-07-13)13 July 1984 (age 41)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England[2] | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–2000 | Port Vale | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2006 | Port Vale | 144 | (30) |
| 2005–2006 | →Hull City (loan) | 9 | (3) |
| 2006 | Hull City | 13 | (0) |
| 2006 | →Southend United (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Southend United | 8 | (0) |
| 2007 | →Bradford City (loan) | 15 | (4) |
| 2007–2010 | Swindon Town | 122 | (45) |
| 2010–2012 | Leeds United | 27 | (3) |
| 2011–2012 | →Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2012–2014 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | (13) |
| 2014 | →Sheffield United (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Carlisle United | 18 | (1) |
| 2015–2017 | Hartlepool United | 53 | (17) |
| 2017 | Warrington Town | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 479 | (116) | |
| International career | |||
| 2006 | Football League England U21 | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2023–2024 | Runcorn Linnets | ||
| 2024–2025 | Connah's Quay Nomads | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
William Paul Paynter (born 13 July 1984) is an Englishfootball manager and formerfootballer who was most recently the manager ofCymru Premier clubConnah's Quay Nomads. In a 17-year professional career in theEnglish Football League, he played as astriker and scored 131 goals in 529 league and cup appearances.
Born inLiverpool, Paynter started his career withPort Vale in 2000 and made over 150 appearances in his six years with the club, being votedPlayer of the Year in2005. He was sold toHull City in January 2006 before moving on toSouthend United eight months later. His career stalled, and following aloan spell withBradford City, he moved on toSwindon Town in August 2007. Averaging more than a goal every three games with the club, hetransferred toLeeds United in June 2010. He joinedBrighton & Hove Albion on loan in October 2011 before taking afree transfer toDoncaster Rovers in August 2012. He helped Rovers to win theLeague One title in 2012–13. He was loaned toSheffield United in January 2014. He signed with Carlisle United in June 2014, moving on toHartlepool United twelve months later. He dropped intonon-League football for a brief spell withWarrington Town in November 2017.
After retiring as a player, he moved intocoach and has coached at the academies atEverton,RIASA, and Port Vale. He was appointed first-team manager atRuncorn Linnets in March 2023 and stepped down in May 2024. He took charge at Connah's Quay Nomads in August 2024 but was relieved of his duties eight months later.
Paynter started his career atPort Vale after beingscouted in his nativeLiverpool at the age of ten.[3] He signed professional forms in 2000, andmanagerBrian Horton gave Paynter his debut againstWalsall atVale Park on 3 May 2001. At only 16 years and 294 days old, he was the youngest Vale player for twenty years.
Horton went on to give the young striker seven furtherSecond Division games in the2001–02 season. He scored his first senior goal pastNotts County on 17 September 2002, making him the club's youngest goalscorer for 24 years. By the end ofthe season, he had scored five goals in 34 appearances. Still a teenager during the2003–04 season, he hit 14 goals in 48 games despite being played mostly on the right wing, leaving him second in the club's scoring charts behind the prolificStephen McPhee.[3] He was rewarded with a long-termcontract at the season's end.[4]
He opened the2004–05 season by beingsent off for over celebrating after scoring Vale's first goal in a 3–2 defeat atWalsall on 7 August; he went on to criticizerefereeLee Probert for ruining the game with thered card decision.[5] He went on to end the campaign as the club's top-scorer with 13 goals in fifty games; this came despite criticism from some supporters for a mini-goal drought in mid-season.[6] In March, managerMartin Foyle dismissed rumours of Paynter moving to nearbyCrewe Alexandra.[7] At the end of the season, fans voted Paynter as the club'sPlayer of the Year.[8] He started the2005–06 season with just two goals in 16League One games, but had still done enough in his Port Vale career to justify a move intoChampionship football. The club reportedTony Pulis'Plymouth Argyle toThe Football Association for an alleged illegal approach for the player,[9] but accepted a bid from Hull City.
In November 2005,Hull City managerPeter Taylor signed Paynter onloan,[10] then later negotiated a permanenttransfer for an initial fee of £150,000 in the Januarytransfer window.[11] TeammateSam Collins also moved to Hull at the same time. Again, Paynter mainly played as a striker but also made some appearances as a right midfielder. He scored three times in his 23 appearances before moving on again at the end of the season.
Paynter joinedSouthend United on a three-year contract on 7 August 2006 for an undisclosed fee,[12] although he actually joined the Shrimpers a few days earlier on loan, to enable him to play in their match againstStoke City.[13] Paynter scored his first and what turned out to be only Southend goal in a 3–2League Cup victory overBrighton,[14] but lost his place in the first-team due to a lack of goals.[15] Paynter's stay at Southend was brief, interrupted by ahamstring injury, and on the last day of the January transfer window of the2006–07 season he was loaned out toBradford City for a month,[16] having made just eleven appearances for Southend.[17]
Paynter made his debut for Bradford City againstNottingham Forest on 3 February 2007, scoring a last-minuteequaliser to earn the Bantams a 2–2 draw.[18] He played 15 times for Bradford, scoring four goals, after his loan was extended to the end of the season.[19]
In August 2007, Paynter signed forSwindon Town on transfer deadline day on a three-year contract.[20] He made his debut on 9 September, coming on as asubstitute in a televised defeat againstYeovil.[21] He hit ahat-trick againstAFC Bournemouth on 22 September,[22] his first game at theCounty Ground.[23] He followed this up with a brace againstGillingham in a 5–0 win on 6 October, as a strong partnership with loan signingSimon Cox began to develop.[24] FollowingPaul Sturrock's departure,caretaker managersDavid Byrne andMaurice Malpas dropped him over concerns that he had lost confidence following a run of one goal scored in nine games.[23] He was soon returned to the starting line-up afterBradley Orr picked up a suspension.[23] In January, he scored a goal and anown goal in anFA Cupreplay withBarnet,[25] before he was sent off in a League One game withCrewe Alexandara foran elbow onMichael O'Connor.[26][23] He was sent off again in March for a deliberate handball againstHuddersfield Town and ended the2007–08 season with ten goals in forty games.[23]
Paynter made 42 league starts in the following2008–09 season for Swindon, scoring eleven goals and providing vital support for the league's joint top-scorerSimon Cox.[27] His strong play was a good foil for the pace and intelligent running shown by Cox.[23] However, anothersending off against Crewe Alexandra tarnished his reputation for new managerDanny Wilson.[23] He did though regain his first-team spot afterBarry Corr picked up an injury in January.[23]
Cox was sold toWest Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2009, and Paynter was given a more prominent role in attack due to his departure. He netted 15 goals in a 17-match run from the end of November through to April. Paynter was named as the League One Player of the Month for January[28] – an award he was also nominated for again in March. At this point, Paynter also entered negotiations over a new contract with Swindon. On 3 April 2010, Paynter scored a brace for Swindon in their 3–0 rout ofLeeds United atElland Road – the win gave Swindon some hope of achieving automaticpromotion. He had also previously scored twice against Leeds that season in a 3–0 win at the County Ground.[27] Swindon reached the League Oneplay-offs, and won their play-off semi-final after beatingCharlton Athletic on penalties – Paynter had missed the first leg through injury, but returned for the second leg which saw Swindon edge intothe final atWembley. He overcame a slight injury doubt and managed to play from the start in Swindon's 1–0 defeat toMillwall, with Paynter being replaced late in the second half.[27] During the2009–10 season, Paynter also managed to form a formidablestrike partnership with fellow strikerCharlie Austin, as the pair scored a total of 49 goals between them.[29] In total Paynter scored 29 goals for Swindon during the 2009–10 season, representing his best goal scoring ratio in a single season.[27] He was named asLeague One Player of the Month for January 2010.[30]
In June 2010, after turning down a new deal at Swindon Town,[31] Paynter accepted a three-year deal with newly promotedLeeds United.[32] In late July however, it was reported that Paynter would be ruled out for two months after suffering astress fracture of theshin that he had picked up during Leeds' pre-season schedule. The injury ruled him out of the rest of the pre-season, with managerSimon Grayson suggesting that the club could not provide timescales for Paynter's recovery from the injury. Paynter finally returned to training at the start of September, and played 90 minutes in abehind closed doorsfriendly,[33][34] however, Paynter later suffered a reaction to his injury, keeping him out of action longer than had been expected.[35]
Having finally returned to fitness and having appeared for Leeds'reserve team,[36] Paynter finally made his first-team debut on 10 October 2010, as a second-half substitute in a 4–1 defeat ofScunthorpe United.[37] Paynter eventually scored his first goal for Leeds in a 2–1 win atPreston North End on 8 March.[38] Paynter had a disappointing first season with Leeds, scoring just once in 23 games, and was linked with a move toYorkshire rivals Sheffield United during the following the summer.[39]
Having remained at Leeds despite interest from elsewhere, Paynter came on as a substitute for Leeds on the opening day of the2011–12 season as they suffered a 3–1 defeat againstSouthampton.[40] Paynter was unable to establish himself in the Leeds first-team however, as he picked up another injury, sidelining him for a further spell.[41] At the end of August, Paynter was permitted to speak withBrighton & Hove Albion regarding a move to the club.[42] However, he decided to stay at Leeds and fight for his place in the team.[42] WithLuciano Becchio returning from injury and the signing ofMikael Forssell, Paynter's playing opportunities diminished further, and managerSimon Grayson hinted that he would allow Paynter to go out on loan.[43]
Having not played since the season's opening day for Leeds in October 2011, reports circulated that several Championship clubs were interested in taking Paynter on loan.[44] but Leeds insisted they would not loan him to a rival club in the same division, and were currently considering an offer from an unnamed League One side.[45] On 27 October 2011, Paynter signed forBrighton & Hove Albion on loan until the start of January 2012.[46] He made his debut for the club on 29 October, as a second-half substitute againstBirmingham City.[47] He played a total of ten games for Brighton without scoring before he returned toElland Road.
Paynter finally made his first start of the season for Leeds, and his first start under new managerNeil Warnock in mid-April 2012, coming into the side againstPeterborough United, scoring twice in a 4–1 home win.[48] He was given a second consecutive start in the following game againstBlackpool, however, he picked up anAchilles injury in the game which ended his season prematurely.[49] Neil Warnock subsequently placed Paynter on the transfer list at the end of the2011–12 season.[50]
Doncaster Rovers bossDean Saunders was strongly linked with a move for the striker at the end of July.[51] However, Paynter instead joinedBlackpool for a week-long trial.[52] The trial was cut short after a few days. He began training with Doncaster Rovers.[53] When Leeds issued their squad numbers for the2012–13 season on 3 August, it was revealed that Paynter, previously the club's number nine, had not been allocated a number.[54]
Following a trial spell, Paynter completed afree transfer to League One sideDoncaster Rovers on 13 August 2012, signing a two-year contract.[55] Paynter scored 13 goals in 40 games during the2012–13 campaign, and on the last day of the season he provided thepass toJames Coppinger which was converted for the late winning goal overBrentford that won Doncaster promotion to the Championship as champions of League One.[56]
On 10 January 2014, Paynter signed on loan forSheffield United.[57] He spent most of his time on the bench asNigel Clough chose to useJose Baxter as a false number nine in a highly successful run that took the club up the table and into the semi-finals of theFA Cup.[58] played 13 games for the "Blades" in the second half of the2013–14 campaign, without scoring a goal. He was released by Doncaster managerPaul Dickov in May 2014.[59]
Paynter signed a two-year contract with newly-relegatedLeague Two clubCarlisle United in June 2014.[60] It was reported that he decided to reject higher paid offers from clubs in higher divisions in join the "Cumbrians" after being convinced to come toBrunton Park by managerGraham Kavanagh.[61] However, Carlisle struggled during the2014–15 season, and after being fined by new managerKeith Curle for refusing to take part in extra training sessions put on for players not in the first-team, both Paynter andGary Dicker took representation from theProfessional Footballers' Association to dispute the legality of their fines.[62] He was transfer listed by Curle in May 2015.[63]
Paynter had his contract with Carlisle United cancelled by mutual consent and joined League Two rivalsHartlepool United on 27 June 2015.[64] He was appointed as clubcaptain by managerRonnie Moore.[65] He made his debut in the 2–0 win overMorecambe in the first game of the2015–16 season, scoring the opening goal and providing anassist forRakish Bingham.[66] Three days later, Paynter scored in his second game to help Hartlepool beatFleetwood Town 1–0 in the first round of the League Cup.[67] His total of 15 goals in 35 appearances in the2015–16 season made him the club's top-scorer and caused new managerCraig Hignett to exercise a contract clause to keep Paynter at the club for another year.[68][69] He was out injured in January with an Achilles problem, and underwent surgery to correct the issue two months later.[70] Hartlepool were relegated intonon-League at the end of the2016–17 season, and Paynter admitted that he did not know what managerDave Jones had been doing with histactics.[71] Paynter was one of three men – along withStuart Parnaby and Ian Gallagher – tasked with assisting caretaker managerMatthew Bates for the final two games of the season, which ended in a defeat and a victory, but ultimately relegation.[72] Paynter was released in May 2017.[73]
On 26 November 2017, Paynter signed withNorthern Premier League Premier Division clubWarrington Town.[74] He had previously been training withAFC Fylde andSouthport.[75] However, he announced his retirement from football the following month.[76]
Paynter played for a Football League England U21 team (selected and managed byPeter Taylor) in a game against an Under-21 Italy squad containing players fromSerie B side's, a match which took place at theKC Stadium in February 2006. Paynter played as a right-midfielder.[77]
Paynter was appointed as an academy footballcoach atEverton in February 2018 and also spent six months as a coach atRIASA.[78] He returned to former club Port Vale as the academy's professional development phase lead coach in October 2020.[79]Interim managerDanny Pugh had to start self-isolation after testing positive forCOVID-19 on 18 January 2021, leaving Paynter,Frank Sinclair andAnthony Griffith to take over first-team duties in his absence.[80] New managerDarrell Clarke kept Paynter on as an assistant in the first-team.[81] He left the club in May 2022.[82]
He joined the coaching staff at Northern Premier League Division One West sideRuncorn Linnets the following month from his Port Vale departure.[83] On 31 March 2023, Runcorn Linnets sacked manager Dave Wild and appointed Paynter as his replacement.[84] In May 2023, he was given a new two-year contract as manager.[85] He announced his resignation on 3 May 2024 following their play-off semi-final defeat toCity of Liverpool.[86] Chairman Peter Cartledge said that "the achievement of finishing second in in[sic] Northern Premier League West Division should not be underestimated or go without high praise".[87]
On 24 August 2024, Paynter was appointed manager ofCymru Premier sideConnah's Quay Nomads, following the resignation of previous managerNeil Gibson.[88] Paynter was one of 25 applicants for the role, and was one of six shortlisted for interview.[89] On 13 April 2025, he was sacked after the club failed to reach the play-offs despite reaching the final of theWelsh Cup.[90][91]
Paynter was born in theNorris Green area ofLiverpool, moving toLitherland during his early childhood, and is a keen fan ofboxing.[92]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Port Vale | 2000–01[27] | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001–02[93] | Second Division | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2002–03[94] | Second Division | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 34 | 5 | |
| 2003–04[95] | Second Division | 45 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 49 | 14 | |
| 2004–05[96] | League One | 45 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 50 | 13 | |
| 2005–06[97] | League One | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |
| Total | 144 | 30 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 158 | 34 | ||
| Hull City | 2005–06[97] | Championship | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
| 2005–06[97] | Championship | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Total | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 3 | ||
| Southend United | 2006–07[98] | Championship | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Bradford City (loan) | 2006–07[98] | League One | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
| Swindon Town | 2007–08[99] | League One | 36 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 10 |
| 2008–09[100] | League One | 42 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3[a] | 0 | 47 | 12 | |
| 2009–10[101] | League One | 44 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3[a] | 0 | 52 | 29 | |
| Total | 122 | 45 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 139 | 51 | ||
| Leeds United | 2010–11[102] | Championship | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| 2011–12[103] | Championship | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| Total | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 2011–12[103] | Championship | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 2012–13[104] | League One | 37 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 40 | 13 |
| 2013–14[105] | Championship | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| Total | 46 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 14 | ||
| Sheffield United (loan) | 2013–14[105] | League One | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Carlisle United | 2014–15[106] | League Two | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 21 | 2 |
| Hartlepool United | 2015–16[107] | League Two | 32 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 15 |
| 2016–17[108] | League Two | 21 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 26 | 4 | |
| Total | 53 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 61 | 19 | ||
| Warrington Town | 2017–18 | Northern Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 479 | 116 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 530 | 131 | ||
Doncaster Rovers
Individual
