Cobblers boss Stuart Gray admitted that he debated long and hard before announcing his retained list earlier this week.

"A lot of thought went into all the decisions we made and we wish all the players that we've released the very best for the future," he said.

"Poul Hubertz came in on a one-year contract last summer and he has done reasonably well for us but I've decided to use that money to try and strengthen the team for next season.

"I stuck my neck out last summer and gave Danny May a contract but unfortunately he's not progressed as well as I hoped.

"Brett Johnson did very well for us when he came into the side but he's just spent too much time on the treatment table.

"Alex Dyer has done well and his gain is really Joe Burnell's loss. I don't think Joe will have any problems finding a club though and what I can say is that all the players that we've decided not to hold on to have all remained one hundred per cent committed.

"Ultimately it is my decision as to who we don't and who we do offer contracts to and it was my decision to offer contracts to Andy Holt and Ryan Gilligan.

"They've obviously got the opportunity to look elsewhere but I think they want to stay here and hopefully they will accept the deals we've offered them.

"It's early days yet in terms of the negotiations but I think they are keen to stay. I think all the lads would have been keen to stay really but sometimes in football you have to make tough decisions and probably the toughest thing I've had to do this season is telling the young players who didn't get offered pro deals.

"Hopefully we will have helped the players we're letting go out by announcing the retained list early and we will give them all the help we can to help them find new clubs.

"By announcing the retained list early hopefully that will put them ahead of the game a little bit because unfortunately come the summer I think there will be about 500 out of contract players all looking for a new club.

"In regards to a decision on Bayo at this moment in time we are just waiting on medical advice. He's got to have a steel rod in his leg taken out and we know that once that has been done he should be a lot freer and fitter.

"Like with any team at any stage of the season we are always looking to strengthen up front. Defensively I think we are fine, I need to strengthen in midfield and obviously up front I will need to bring some fresh faces in.

"I think there will be a lot of strikers out of work in the summer and my job is to try and bring the right ones to this football club.

"The higher up the league we can finish the more attractive this club will be to players because they will see what we are trying to achieve. In terms of our finances though I want players to come to the football club for football reasons even if maybe they can get an extra bit of money elsewhere.

"I've tried all season to bring strikers in but we've either been pipped by a club in the Championship or a player deciding to go elsewhere for more money. The higher up the league we can finish though the more attractive a proposition we become to a player and that is probably a bit different to last summer.

"I've got my wish list of players I'd like to bring in but nothing is ever guaranteed in football and I think a lot of clubs last summer signed strikers that they thought would get them 20 goals this season.

"It's all about getting the right balance, I know the players I want but as I've said they have got to come here for the right reasons.

"I think you need players at this football club that are going to play regularly and are full of energy. I think that's what the fans want as well and I think the fans will always back a player if they can see him giving one hundred per cent."