Northampton Town manager Kevin Nolan has warned potential transfer targets that the club won’t be held to ransom over wage demands.
The 43-year-old joined the Cobblers in December when he was announced as Jon Brady’s successor. He was tasked with keeping the club in League One, a feat he achieved with an eventual 19th-placed finish.
It was a position which was seen as a success, with the East Midlands-based outfit having to contend with one of the smallest budgets in the division whilst competing with the financial clout of the likes of Birmingham City and Wrexham. Although the pair have moved into the Championship, they have been replaced by Luton Town, Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City, who will be able to attract significantly better players.
Nolan Warns Potential Signings
Nolan has already added 11 players to his ranks, with the vast majority arriving on a free transfer. However, there is one position which has alluded him so far, with the search for a striker still ongoing. Via Northampton Chronicle & Echo, the former Notts County boss addressed the situation:
“We have to be absolutely sure. I’ve had some really good discussions with Kelvin (Thomas) and the owners about the overinflation of wages in this league but when we pounce, we pounce the right way.
“I don’t want people coming into meetings and saying ‘I want x amount of money’ because that shows they are only about the money. I want them to come to Northampton because they want to play for us and they want to be a part of what we’re doing here.
“We’re trying to move the club forwards and if they’re only talking about money, I’m not interested. When we’re on the Zoom calls or we’re on the phone to players, I need to have that feeling that they want to come here and be part of what we’re building and what we’re tying to create.
“It’s for the benefit of the club in the long run so that people want to come and join Northampton in the future. That’s what I’m tying to do in my time and the lads who have joined us, they wanted to come here and they turned down other clubs to sign for Northampton. That’s what we’ve got to do.
“The strikers are always the ones that get out last if they come out on loan or they’re always waiting until the last minute because they want the bigger money. The defenders moan because they say strikers get paid too much! But I’m still looking to strengthen all over the pitch, especially through the spine, and we’re working hard to do that.”
Writer’s View
Nolan has shown that he is astute in the transfer market and he knows that he will find the right player if he bides his time. Northampton have made good signings so far but won’t want to begin the campaign without another striker, with Tom Eaves the only senior centre forward in his squad.
