Stuart Gray explained his thinking behind the retained list, and was keen to show his gratitude to the departing players.

"I don't think there are too many surprises but I do want to place on record my thanks to the players that are leaving for all their efforts," he said.

"They've all worked hard, given one hundred per cent and have made a contribution to Northampton Town Football Club.

"I've always said that it is important that you train how you play and vice versa, it is important that you play every game as if it's your last because one day it will be.

"Ian Taylor has made the decision to retire and the other players that we've let go weren't in my plans for next season.

"I informed those players of that decision reasonably early so that gives them the chance to try and get themselves fixed up somewhere else.

"Brett Johnson and Liam Dolman have both been offered six-month contracts and they will be letting me know soon if they are going to take those up those offers.

"Liam did very well on Saturday, I've had a good chat with him and I just felt if he'd shown what he has done in the last month or so earlier maybe I wouldn't have got Alex Pearce in.

"Brett Johnson can certainly play but he has had a lot of injury problems this season.

"He did well when he played against Carlisle and he also did well when he was thrown in against Blackpool at the last minute.

"If he can stay clear of injuries I think he will do well but we need to sort his hamstring problems out. We need to do a bit more investigative work into why he keeps getting the same hamstring injury because I think it has happened four times this season.

"Fingers crossed he can get clear of those problems and then its up to him to try and impress me again at the start of next season."