Northampton Town

Northampton Town
Oxford have signed Northampton captain Chris Willmott on a Bosman-style free transfer, and he has agreed a two-year deal at the Kassam Stadium. The 27-year-old defender told Oxford's website: "I was told that Oxford were interested and came down for a meeting with (manager) Brian Talbot. "This is a new challenge for me, which I am looking forward to." Wilmott made 82 league appearances in two seasons at Sixfields, following spells with Luton and Wimbledon.

Cobblers eyeing stadium expansion
Northampton have unveiled plans to redevelop their Sixfields Stadium and almost double their seating capacity. The £10m project will see the West Stand increase in size and include conference facilities, a new club shop, ticket office, bar and restaurant. Sixfields will seat 15,000 people when finished and chairman David Cardoza said: "We need other income streams. "The aim is for the club to be playing in the Championship in a redeveloped Stadium generating its own income."

Johnson given Northampton target
Northampton's Colin Calderwood expects new signing Bradley Johnson to force himself into the first team next term. "He has trained with the first team and we want players to come in like David Hicks did last year," manager Calderwood told the club website. "Bradley is physically strong, fairly aggressive and looks a good athlete," he added of the 18-year-old midfielder. "He's a good young player with a good delivery and from what I've seen of him I think he can force his way in."

Calderwood urges players to learn
Northampton boss Colin Calderwood says his side must use this year's play-off semi-final defeat to their advantage when they begin the new season. "The hurt and disappointment of losing to Southend will be with the players for a while," he told the club website. "But the vast majority of the players who suffered defeat will be here and that will work as a motivating factor. "They will know what we must do to finish in the top three next year because of this season's experiences."

Calderwood learns from mistakes
Northampton boss Colin Calderwood says, despite reaching the play-offs, he made errors this season and has become a better manager from his experiences. "There are quite few things I would change if I look back on the season," Calderwood told the club website. "At certain times I should have changed the team after we came off the back of a win instead of leaving it the same. "I've learnt more from this season than I did from last and will be a better manager for the disappointment."

Cobblers boss in plea to Murray
Northampton boss Colin Calderwood has ordered defender Fred Murray to spend the summer relaxing in a bid to recover from his Achilles injury. Calderwood told the Cobblers website: "His injury just needs complete rest. "He played heroically and bravely over the last three months in a lot of pain but I'm sure he'll come back in top condition ready for another campaign. "But at the moment it's more a case of getting him to do nothing rather than getting him to train."

Calderwood happy with strikeforce
Northampton manager Colin Calderwood insists he has no plans to tweak his strikeforce ahead of next season. The Cobblers boss is hoping to build a tight squad and told the club's website: "We have got four strikers. "I don't see any adjustments in that area unless someone comes in for one of them. The four strikers we have got are all of a good standard. "I do not want to have a massive squad, ideally around 22 players who could all play in the first team."

Calderwood hails ground proposals
Colin Calderwood feels the proposed redevelopment of Sixfields will help attract players to Northampton Town. The proposals, announced in May, would see the current stadium capacity of 7,653 rise to over 15,000. Boss Calderwood told the Cobblers' website: "Players will come because of what they've heard about Northampton. "The stadium is very nice as it is at the minute, but if your facilities are good then players are impressed by that - any improvements will help."

Northampton hold transfer talks
Northampton Town's director of football John Deehan says the club are negotiating with a number of players in a bid to bring them to Sixfields. Talks are ongoing despite manager Colin Calderwood being away on holiday. Deehan told the club website: "We're aware that we need to strengthen the squad in all areas, but our main priority is the centre of defence. "It's fair to say we have had in-depth talks with those targets, and those negotiations are very much ongoing."

Wilmott is angry with speculation
New Oxford defender Chris Wilmott has angrily denied speculation that he had agreed his move from Northampton before the end of last season. The 27-year-old moved on a Bosman free transfer last month after the Cobblers lost out in the League Two play-offs. But he told the Northampton Chronicle & Echo: "I've heard a few people say the deal had been done before I left Northampton, which isn't true. "I had no contact with Oxford while I was still involved with the play-offs." Wilmott has agreed a two-year deal at the Kassam Stadium.

Flahavan agrees new Southend deal
Southend keeper Darryl Flahavan has rejected offers from a host of other clubs to agree a new two-year deal. Bristol Rovers, Grimsby, Northampton and Rushden & Diamonds were all keen on signing the 27-year-old shot-stopper. Flahavan was impressive at the back end of last season, three clean sheets in a row helping the Shrimpers win promotion to League One via the play-offs. He said: "I had offers to go elsewhere but Southend was always my number one option. I really enjoy it here."

Austrian trip excites Calderwood
Northampton boss Colin Calderwood is looking forward to the club's pre-season tour of Austria. Calderwood's team play SV Reid on 5 July and Vocklabruck three days later as the boss prepares his team for the League Two season. "The facility looks like a really good working environment," said Calderwood. "It is a super place to go and train and we have got a game against a team in the Austrian premiership, which will be a good test for us."

Cobblers near new Westwood deal
Northampton expect central defender Ashley Westwood to sign a new contract, even though he will not be fit to play until the new year. Westwood is recovering from a knee ligament injury, but is considered a key player by boss Colin Calderwood. Calderwood told the Chronicle & Echo: "I'm speaking to him on Thursday and hopefully the deal will be agreed. "He's facing a sustained period out, but when he's fit he's good value and we have to be patient with him."

Millers boss moves for Williamson
Rotherham boss Mick Harford is to make Northampton midfielder Lee Williamson his second signing since taking over as Millers boss at the end of last season. The 23-year-old former Mansfield Town player will move to Millmoor on a free transfer at the start of July. Meanwhile, Northampton have signed utility player Jason Crowe after he rejected a new deal from Grimsby Town. The 26-year-old former Portsmouth player has agreed a two-year deal at the Sixfields Stadium.

Crowe excited by Cobblers chance
New Northampton signing Jason Crowe is excited about next season after joining on a two-year contract from Grimsby. The 26-year-old rejected the offer of a new contract from the Mariners and he said: "I needed a fresh challenge. "Northampton have a great chance of promotion. I played against them twice last season and I was very impressed. "This is a team for the future. The manager showed me around and I was impressed with the ground and training facilities," he told the club website.

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