JON’S COBBLERS ON RIGHT ROAD

SKIPPER Jon Guthrie believes the way Northampton Town have adapted to League One life this season is simply another indicator that the club is heading in the right direction.

After the agony of final-day disappointment in 2021-22, the Cobblers achieved promotion from League Two last term under boss Jon Brady. Some wondered how they would fare in the third tier, but heading into the weekend they were a comfy 11th in the table and looking well set for a top half finish.

Centre-half Guthrie told The FLP: “Northampton have been seen as a bit of a yo-yo club, one that couldn’t quite do it in League One. We wanted to put that right and spoke about it in pre-season.

“People wrote us off, but we used that against them and set our targets. We managed to keep a lot of the squad that got us promoted and that continuity has helped massively. To establish ourselves so well this season has been really pleasing.”

The 31-year-old reckons it’s further confirmation that the Cobblers are a club on the rise.

“We are only heading one way on and off the pitch,” he explained. “For example, we got our own training ground this year and that’s been a really big boost.

Progress

“We’ve got a really good group of lads here and we work hard for each other. You can see that togetherness on the pitch.”

Of course, Northampton’s progress over the last couple of years may raise expectations in some quarters about what they could achieve next term, but Guthrie says noone will be getting too carried away.

“We are very level-headed and every season is so different,” he said. “You can never predict what is going to happen, but I’m sure the performances and results this season will give us confidence going into next year.

“Every club in League One would say that the Championship is the ambition this year or by building over the next two or three years. Everyone would dream of that, but it’s not easy. There are some really big clubs who have struggled to get out of this division.”

Whatever happens further down the line, Guthrie won’t have any regrets about his decision to join the Cobblers almost three years ago. It’s been a highly successful period in the career of the former Crewe, Walsall and Livingston centre-back.

“When I first signed, I had the same ambition as the manager – to get this club promoted,” he said. “We achieved it last season and have kicked on this year to be mid-table in a hard league.

“I missed a bit of the season with a hamstring injury, but, apart from that, it’s been really good. I’m loving my time here. It’s where I have enjoyed myself the most and it’s where I have played my best football.”

Guthrie, right, is full of praise for the club’s Aussie boss Brady, who has led the club’s resurgence.

“He’s been brilliant,” he said. “He’s brought in some really good players and we’ve got a good mix of young and older players.

“He’s a very hands-on manager in training and tactically we go through a lot in terms of how he wants us to shape up. We have a really good staff and it’s a really good environment to come into. When you are enjoying coming into work, it makes it easier.” Guthrie also believes attacker Sam Hoskins, 31, deserves credit for following up a stellar campaign last year with a 15goal haul so far this term.

“He’s been unbelievable,” added the defender. “He works so hard in training and it’s no surprise he scores the goals he does. You have always got a chance with him in the team – he’s been amazing for us.”