Piney was VP under JT Teller from the beginning and never stepped down, until Jax was old enough to assume his place. Clay was just a member, Lenny being Sgt at Arms, was in Stockton and couldn't assume the role. Piney was suffering from emphysema and was unable to properly lead. Piney had no choice, but to let Clay take the gavel, being the only First Nine member left in Charming. Piney has never trusted Clay, since the botched attempt on JT's life, in 1992. He always had suspicions about Clay, from that time on. He stayed as VP to keep him in line and voted down things he felt took the club in the wrong direction. When Jax turned 18, Piney called for a vote to have his VP patch go to Jax only, or he'd die wearing it. The club agreed and made Jax VP and Piney just became a voting member again.
In my story of the First 9, Redwood Nine, I show Clay to be the cause of Lenny going to prison, as well as being the cause of all the other first members, in a bid to take over the club. He has always coveted JT and wants the power and control he has, thereby his need to be 'best friends' with JT, so he can plan his takeover. His ability to kill cold heartedly, comes from his time in Vietnam, when he learns to shoot innocent civilians and enjoys it. He has a blood-lust that is always part of him, from then on. In my story, the Teller-Morrow garage, is left to them by the former owner, Jake Harding, who is murdered by a jealous husband. JT has controlling share of it and passes it on to Gemma, so Clay sets about stealing away Gemma. The clubhouse is left to the club and no one person has possession of it.
To say Clay Morrow is evil, is an understatement. He's been the thorn in the club's side since he came back from 'Nam and Piney sponsored him to be the last of the First 9. JT had said he would be a patched member, as long as he came back from 'Nam, so when he was discharged, his one and only goal, was to be a member and begin his rise to power. When the gavel went down, Clay knew his take over, was just a matter of time.