The return of a good old favourite thread albeit with the date moved on a year.

I too would like to thank Mark and Kieron for their efforts over the last two seasons and wish them well for the future. It would be great to see them both play for the same Scotland side in a major tournament.

Isn’t everyone forgetting something, the Football Governance Bill was introduced into parliament on the 18th March. If this gets through we will have to apply for an operating licence and our budget will have to be cut not added to. The good news is that a number of league 1 clubs are in a far worse position than us and are probably going to have to take some fairly drastic measures to reduce their budget.

This is right on top of us and it seems to me most supporters are oblivious to what this actually means. Just a little taste from the Morgan Lewis website.

“The financial resources threshold will be met if a club’s financial resources are appropriate in relation to activities the club carries on. In considering whether a club meets this threshold, the IFR may consider the corporate structure of a club, its latest financial plan, its strategic business plan, and competitions that a club’s relevant team participates in, among other considerations.”

“If a club consistently fails to take reasonable steps to meet these thresholds, the IFR will have the power to revoke a club’s full operating licence or decide not to grant a full operating licence at the end of the club’s provisional operating licence period”.

“Financial plans condition: Requires clubs to submit a financial plan specifying (1) information about how the club is or is to be funded and the sources of funding, (2) information about expected revenues and expenses, and (3) financial risk assessments and plans for managing financial risk“

“Once this legislation is passed into law, clubs will likely face a period of transition as they navigate, adopt, and apply the new regulations and safeguards. Similarly, the IFR will need time to establish itself and deliver on its wide-ranging powers and duties, which will also need to harmonise with the existing regulatory regimes and bodies in English football (e.g., the Football Association Premier League)”

That is just for starters, there is an extraordinary amount of work involved to be compliant in all areas of the bill.

Are they trying to kill football in the lower leagues off?

I am not the king of Happy Clappers as yesterday as the game ended I left my seat not entirely happy with the display and result. As customary there were some who clapped the players; I admire their fortitude!

Blimey Evers if you weren't happy it must have been bad.

They owe the Fleetwood faithful a performance against Exeter.

Grumpy Old Man will not be so grumpy now!!

Mr Incredible was Mr Invisible....maintaining my poor record in this. Oh well, there's always next year!!
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I feel a bit guilty actually as I know nothing about horseracing, never bet on a horse in my life or indeed anything else for that matter unless you count the lottery and had never heard of the horse until I drew it in the sweepstake.

However I'll take it, so thanks DC. The horse was clearly better than the Cobblers today.

I wasn't at the game so I hope I have Evers permission to comment. What I don't quite understand is that we were 2 - 0 down at half time playing against a strong wind and rain and at half time we take off Hoskins and Pinnock who in my opinion are the two most likely to score.

Were they that bad in the first half that JB didn't think it worthwhile to 'see how things go' in the second half considering we would have had the wind and rain in our favour. Koiki for AK I can understand but Willis and McWilliams for Hoskins and Pinnock just seems bizarre to me. Did he really think that would increase our chances of a goal? or was it damage limitation?

I look forward to hearing the comments of those unfortunate souls who attended,

I wonder how many games will be shown on the red button with one commentator and one camera so no different angles or replays. This is what happens at the moment in the championship for mid week games, they choose one match with all the usual programming and then every other game is via the red button. I suppose it gives the fans of championship sides the chance to see their team mid week but the experience is not great.

Do we know if Sky will be making an extra charge for this service or will it be within the normal subscription? I already pay £99  per month for Sky and I am damned if I will pay extra.

I would like a go please.

He is a huge asset to the club.

Agreed.

I’ve been looking at too many screens today as read the ref as Rose Royce

Have you just been to the car wash.

I can't be bothered reading all this stuff, is there any sign it will be finished by the start of next season, it really has gone on too loooooooooooooong?

Anyway, having just read two pages of theoretical football did anyone watch the real game last night, Portsmouth v Derby? I thought it was a cracker especially given the conditions and a draw was a fair result, if both sides don't go up automatically I will be very surprised.

The only downside to the game was Aaron McLean's commentary - why does he have to talk so LOUD, it was so annoying. Please Sky, let's have Don Goodman or Andy Hinchcliffe in future.

I don't think anyone stood out that much but I will give it to Bowie.

I thought that was an awful game, the number of times our defenders either passed the ball to a PV player or whacked it against a PV player was alarming. Our passing was just as bad up front as well. Luckily though Port Vale were not good enough to take advantage and we ran out 2-0 winners with a goal from McWiiliams that Pinnock  called the goal of the season.

I still think Vale have a chance of staying up as all the bottom 5 teams lost and Burton look very likely to go down as now as they have played more games than anyone else and can only make 55 points if they win every game - they can't catch us now either.

Good to see AK back on the pitch but JB said it doesn't look good for Moore as he has damaged his shoulder.

Can enough teams mathematically overtake us considering the remaining fixtures with teams playing each other? Might need Vorders for that one. I’d imagine it would need a very specific set of results, including us losing every game.

Yes we would need to lose every game, and the other teams would need to win most of theirs. Fleetwood and Carlisle are out of the equation but Cheltenham can get 62, Port Vale 60, Burton 58 and Camb U 63. I haven't checked any higher, so it's still possible to be relegated. I have no idea whether any of those teams play each other and I agree that would make a difference.

However the chances are very small and you feel 1 win for us will do it.

It may have escaped peoples notice that we are not actually safe yet, although I agree it's highly unlikely we will be relegated. However this is the Cobblers we are talking about.

At the moment the only clubs that can't catch us are Carlisle and Fleetwood both of whom we still have to play of course. I won't therefore be on my personal beach until another two are added to that list. Once that is achieved then I guess it's, meh time.

It's about time we gave some team a hammering, when was the last time we won by 4 or 5 goals? We have it in us and these last 5 games we should go for it, with 3 in the bottom 4, Exeter down there and Barnsley losing regularly at the moment, now is the time to do it.

None of this 'on the beach' please .

Remember Peter Kane very well. Kane had a prolific season with us, particularly the season when we were in the old 2nd Division and beat Swindon 4-0:

28 Sep 1963 Northampton Town v Swindon Town   W 4-0   League Division Two Attended by 18173 at the old County Ground!!
Peter Kane scored 2 and Frank Large also got two. Line ups http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=19640110

Just have a look at the Swindon side that game, they were the darlings of all the Soccer Media at the time, a very young side who played progressive football!
Kane got transferred to Arsenal (for £35,000 I believe) ,but never quite made it there. I happened to be living in London at the time and when I learnt he had been selected to play I went to watch the game at Highbury.
If you happen to see Peter again give him my regards as I remember his two goals against Swindon very well.

I remember Don Rogers , what a player he was, and Mike Summerbee went on to better things at Man City and England.

Currently I am in Clifton Hospital in St Annes near Blackpool after a hip op.
The gentleman next bed to me is Peter Kane who some of your older fans would remember as looking on wiki he was quite prolific for you.
Just wondered if your club try to keep in touch with old players

I remember Peter Kane, although I am not sure I ever saw him play.

I would have thought all clubs keep tabs on their old players, they certainly seem to know when they pass away. I hope Peter is ok.

I'm very glad you put that record to rest - for you, for giving us a tiny chance of getting into the automatics and for Paul Moulden's lad (former City player, now Wanderer's kit man)
I don't think they look that good either. How they beat us I'll never know. Well I do know - we dominated them but with our two main strikers injured, squandered a shedload of chances and then conceded from a corner which was handballed into the net and allowed by the officials. They've spent a lot of money on getting promoted with older top level players and younger ones that we tried to sign but couldn't afford, but for the most part they are a very turgid watch and I'm glad I don't have to watch that team every week. That said they have a massive following who do turn out to watch them every week for some reason.

As for the top of the table, Derby are still in the box seat for the second automatic spot and we need them to drop more points for either us Barnsley or Posh to nick it. Blackpool might get something off them and Pompey even more so which would make it a 4 horse race for one spot. Posh and Barnsley are 3 points behind us with a game in hand and have a theoretically easier run in whilst we have a very difficult run in and basically have to win every game to have a chance. End of season results mean anything could happen however, our final game of the season is away at Posh and there is a scenario wherein it could be a one off shoot out for automatic promotion - but without the pomp and prizes of a playoff final.

All the best for the rest of the campaign.

Radio Northampton played an interview with Paul Warne before the match and he admitted Bolton deserved a draw against Derby the previous week.

[Hoskins]

It's a difficult choice this week for all the right reasons, but I will give it to Hoskins for his strike that in the end won us the game.