Stuart Gray says the Cobblers cannot afford to be a soft touch next season in League 2.

"I can probably point to one or two games last season where we were maybe a little bit of a soft touch and next season we can't be a soft touch anywhere, we will have to roll our sleeves up, battle and stand up and be counted," he said.

"The bookies have us as one of the favourites and it is amazing what can be done if you can get a bit of confidence and momentum going.

"We need to get a bit of confidence and we definitely need to put more points on in threes than we did this season.

"I am trying to sell this club to future players with the set-up already here, the pitch is fantastic, the training facilities are reasonable and if the re-development happens this club can really move forward.

"We want to get straight back up to League One and that is the ambition that I am trying to sell to the players that I am trying to bring into this football club.

"Steve Guinan and Craig Hinton  have decided they share our ambition and were keen to come on board and hopefully more will follow."