<P> In the first episodes we see that Clay is still saddened by the loss of Abel, and is willing to help Jax at all costs . Also, his arthritis continues to worsen . As shown in the episode "Home", it got so bad that Jax had to tie Clay's hands to the handlebars . In the episode "Turas", when SAMCRO are nearly killed by a bomb hidden in a gun shipment put there by the SAMBEL Sergeant - at - Arms, Jax has a shell shocked vision of his biological father speaking to him but it turns out to actually be Clay . In the episode "Firinne", Clay kills McGee, member of the First 9 and President of the Belfast Chapter, for his treachery against the club by pushing him off a roof after taking his cut . He later burns the cut after expressing remorse for the killing . In the Season 3 finale, when Clay learns of Jax's betrayal, he appears enraged and says "Jax will die". In the end, it is revealed that he knew of Jax's deal with Stahl and that it was part of a plan to execute Jimmy O. and Stahl . When the plan is done, Clay and the others share a laugh, much to the confusion of the ATF agents . Also in the end of the episode, as Tara is reading the letters John Teller wrote to Maureen Ashby, Teller says he fears that Clay and Gemma will kill him because of his betraying Gemma by having an affair and attempting to alter the clubs focus on criminal activity, leading to much speculation that Clay and Gemma might have killed John Teller . </P> <P> Clay is seen as one of the many SAMCRO members released from prison . He later escapes their sheriff tail and accompanies Jax and Opie's meeting with the Russians, where he settles their differences and forms a partnership with them . He attends Opie's wedding and goes to test a new gun given to them by Putlova . As he's firing the gun he turns and shoots Putlova's bodyguards and Jax stabs Putlova to death as revenge for trying to kill him in prison . He also tells Gemma that his arthritis has gotten worse and that he has only 1 or 2 years left before he has to step down as President of SAMCRO . Also, while in prison, he set up a deal to run cocaine for the Gallindo Cartel, but this does not sit well with the other members of the club, as SOA avoids drugs . When the club goes to Arizona and meets the Tucson charter, SAMTAZ, he demands that the charter stop dealing meth . This request is denied, as selling generates too much money for the club to give up . Otto wants Luann's murderer dead, and the issue is raised in the chapel . Clay is then confronted by Piney, who threatens Clay that if Clay does not kill the cocaine deal with the Gallindo Cartel, Piney will distribute letters to the club about John Teller's murder to the other members . Clay discusses the threat with Gemma, revealing that Clay did kill Teller . Clay later meets Unser and obtains the letters from him, unaware that Gemma has the same plan . After Unser gets a copy of the letters, he confronts Clay . Clay replies he does not regret doing what he did because it protected the Club and Charming . When he visits a tied Georgie Caruso, he claims that he has connections with millionaire Japanese families . Clay immediately sees an opportunity to make Jacob Hale believe he has investors in time . His idea is that he will have the investors pull out at the last minute, which will put an end to Charming Heights . After retrieving the last brick of cocaine that Juice had stolen, framing Miles for it, Clay asks Romeo for help killing Tara, to keep the secret of the letters hidden . </P> <P> Clay comes to Piney's cabin in the night . After discussing trust issues and differences in the cabin, Clay leaves, only to break down the door, knocking Piney off his feet . Piney begs Clay not to get Tara involved in the letters from JT . Clay shoots Piney in the chest with a shotgun, killing him . This makes Piney the 3rd member of the First 9, and the 2nd and final co-founding member of the Sons of Anarchy to be killed at the hands of Clay . Clay leaves the markings of the cartel to implicate them for the murder . Given the club's difficult circumstances, Clay calls the Irish Kings for a meeting to set a new deal that lets them survive the war against Lobo Sonora . He later learns that the One Niners have been dealing with the Sonora and the Sons plan an attack using the Niners to lure them . This fails, however, as Sonora's men were equipped with grenade launchers . Luis, Romero's right - hand man, gives Clay a cell phone with his contact to kill Tara . Jax confronts Clay when he hears from Bobby that Clay wanted Bobby, instead of Opie, as president as was the deal . Clay says it is Tara's fault that Jax changed, but Jax warns him to never insult her like that again . Gemma tells Clay that Tara will not reveal the letters to Jax for fear that Jax will get deeper into the club out of guilt . Clay promises to Gemma he won't hurt Tara, however he uses the cell phone Luis gave him, and the next morning pays the contact 25,000 dollars for the murder . After finding out that Jax and the babies are with her, Clay desperately tries to stop the hit, but is unsuccessful and Tara has her hand broken by a car door while struggling to escape . Clay meets Romeo and gets a refund, with Romeo taking the matter into his hands personally, and Clay reluctantly agrees that Tara is best dead . Gemma confronts Clay about the hit and a violent fight ensues between the two, including Gemma shooting at Clay (deliberately missing) and getting in a powerful punch and a kick against Clay with Clay getting injured but Clay gets the upper hand and severely beats Gemma's face . That night he decides to sleep in the clubhouse . Opie later finds out that Clay was behind the death of Piney and seeks revenge, ending up shooting Clay in the torso twice . Clay survived the shooting but was shown to be in intensive care . Later in the episode Gemma gave Jax his father's letters to Maureen Ashby . After reading the letters, and realizing Clay is responsible for the death of John Teller, Jax vowed to kill Clay . Jax puts a knife up to Clay's throat and makes him step down as President and orders him to never go near his family again . Although Clay tries to explain his reasons Jax refuses to listen and takes his President patch, thus ending Clay's reign as President of SAMCRO . </P> <P> Clay is shown to have been discharged from the hospital, but requires an oxygen tank due to his lung injury . He is shown trying to make amends with Gemma, but she coldly brushes him off . He later reveals to the club he murdered Piney, but states that Piney was drunk and tried to kill him first and Opie found out and is the one who shot him . The club's rules (due to him having killed a member) means they must vote on kicking him out . When Jax questions his motives for telling the club, he denies any . His arthritis is shown to have reached the point to where he can't ride his bike at all . He later goes to his and Gemma's burglarized house and expresses concern over his safe being stolen . He then goes and visits Opie and convinces him not to walk away from the club because of him, seeing as though he's "half dead already". He later finds out where Gemma has been going from Juice . He goes to the brothel and confronts Nero, the owner and Gemma's new suitor . He then "seeks comfort" with a young prostitute to anger Gemma . Gemma then attacks the girl causing her to leave . When Nero's operation is later shut down, and he and Gemma are arrested, it's likely Clay was behind it . </P>

When season does clay step down as president
find me the text answering this question