Northampton Town Chairman David Cardoza is pleased with the way the summer is going, and has revealed that work is well underway to strengthen the squad. With Stuart Gray having just returned from holiday, the Chairman addressed the media at Sixfields at their request to provide them with an update.
"Stuart Gray is looking at bringing in 4 to 5 players, mainly attacking options," he said.
"Chris Doig was a key signing for us over the summer. He is our captain, a leader and he is very well respected and well liked. Stuart Gray has a number of players he is targeting, both in central attacking areas and also right sided players.
"Pre-season is coming and that is a fresh start for everyone who is currently here. Stuart Gray has been on holiday but we are speaking every day and we are in constant touch by phone. Stuart is looking both at players out of contract and players under contract at other clubs as he works to strengthen the squad.
"David Hunt left earlier this summer. He had an option for another year that we could have held him to, but he wanted more money and another year on top of the one year he had and Stuart was not prepared to offer that so we let him go.
"The wage budget for next season is similar to this season but we will have less players. Stuart is aiming for a squad of 22 quality players who can all play in the first team, rather than a 26 or 27 man squad, some of whom are youngsters who are unlikely to play regular first team football. We want to have a slightly smaller squad than last season, but more quality.
"League One is an attractive league but it is a very tough league. There are of course Leeds and Nottingham Forest with teams like Swansea, Carlisle, Huddersfield, Yeovil, Oldham, Tranmere, Luton, Southend, Swindon, Hartlepool, Doncaster and others who are all going to be a big threat.
"Season ticket sales are going OK. The discount period was the busiest ever but things have quietened down since but that is to be expected. However, with new players on the way and the fixtures out we are very confident we will be where we want to be.
"We need to get a few players in and that should be done over the next month or so. It will be a tough league next season but I think we are up to the job. Stuart Gray wants to win and take us up but there is no pressure at all on him. It may take a few years to do that but then again it may not. We will have our ups and downs but I am sure our general trend is on the up.
"Stuart Gray has a massive contact base and he can clearly pick a player. I am delighted with the way he has worked since he came in. He has remodelled the side into a younger, fitter side and that is something he felt he had to do.
"Stuart is a top man. I have every confidence that he will take us forward. He is very smart, hard working and knowledgeable and I feel he will be my most successful manager here. Stuart is an all round excellent manager. His coaching skills are second to none and his man-management is superb.
"I employ the managers who live and die by results and they get every support to do things how they want to. Of course we talk about players and tactics like any fan does but it is all down to the manager and it is my job to support him as best I can."
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