As a player, Jackson was a defender who played in the Football League for Crewe Alexandra, Bury, Preston North End, Tranmere Rovers, Blackpool and Shrewsbury Town.
While at Preston, he had a one-month loan spell at Tranmere Rovers from December 2002 to January 2003, having been frozen out of the team at Deepdale by manager Craig Brown.
[12] It was announced on 13 January 2010 that Jackson had retired from playing due to a persistent knee injury, as a specialist advised him not to risk his long-term health by continuing, but he was to remain at the club until the end of the 2009–10 season in a coaching capacity.
[13] Jackson continued in his coaching role at Shrewsbury, and was named as caretaker manager for the final match of the 2009–10 season following the dismissal of Paul Simpson.
[17] After a sequence of only two wins in the opening eleven matches of the 2016–17 season, Jackson left the club by mutual consent in October 2016 along with Mellon,[18] before once again being appointed as his assistant again at Tranmere shortly afterwards.
[22] On 15 April 2022, after Sean Dyche was dismissed, Burnley appointed Jackson as caretaker manager for their away match against West Ham United,[23] which they drew 1–1 two days later.