Gray: Cobblers will be one of the fittest
Temperatures in the mid-30s and wall-to-wall Wimbledon tennis coverage can only mean one thing – the football season is about to start.
Two months after the relegation-confirming defeat at Leeds United, the Cobblers squad today took to Abington Park to begin their annual pre-season slog.
The next six weeks will see the players – including the trio of new signings Dean Beckwith, Steve Guinan and Craig Hinton, as well as Liam Dolman, who has returned in a bid to win a new deal at Sixfields – build up their sharpness for what is hoped will only be a brief return to the basement division.
Manager Stuart Gray has been given a simple but challenging brief for the 2009-10 campaign by chairman David Cardoza: Get Northampton promoted at the first attempt.
And, knowing that perfect planning prevents poor performance, Gray has meticulously laid out a schedule which he hopes will make the Town squad one of the fittest in Coca-Cola League Two.
"We did a double session today and we've got a six-week programme all laid out, with some games in there as well," he said.
"My pre-season used to get me fit but these days players keep themselves ticking over through the summer.
"It's just a case of getting them up to sharpness and I just want to get everyone fit and chomping at the bit for the game against Macclesfield on August 9."
One player who Gray will certainly be hoping is available for selection on the opening day is last year's leading scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa.
Last summer saw the big man beset by a string of niggles, an injury record which then continued once the serious stuff had started.
As well as getting his talismanic striker fit for duty, Gray will also want him playing alongside Guinan as soon as possible but won't be making any special allowances for anyone.
“It’s your base for the whole season,” he said.
“Unfortunately last summer for Bayo (Akinfenwa) it was a bit stop-start for him and we were having to wheel him out there at times, but fingers crossed it won’t be like that this time.
“You might need a little bit of luck in football but nobody can stop you being fit and this Northampton team will be very fit this season.”
The departure of Mark Hughes has created another job for Gray over the summer – deciding who to throw the captain’s armband to.
Guinan would be a contender, as would Danny Jackman and Luke Guttridge.
But the smart money’s on it being a centre-half, and the even smarter money is on it being one called Craig.
“It’s something that has gone through my mind, especially with Jason Crowe leaving too,” said Gray, who has also seen Chris Doig – his club captain – leave the club for football in the Australian league.
“Mark Hughes always had good leadership skills from the moment he arrived at the club, but obviously we don’t have that option now.
“I think with players like Craig Hinton and Dean Beckwith coming in I’ve got lots of leadership qualities there, and in Steve Guinan as well.
“They want to be here, that’s the most important thing.”
With a vast assortment of players to choose from this summer, it is very much a buyer’s market for your average football manager.
Gray feels the deluge of players released at the top end will improve the quality at the bottom.
“I think the Blue Square Premier and the non-leagues are going to get stronger than ever this season,” he said. “But I think a lot of clubs will continue to just carry smaller squads.
“We’ve got to name seven substitutes this season, which will be interesting.
“What it will do is it will give us a chance to put some of the younger lads in the matchday squad.
“It will give them a chance to kick on because this is a football club that gives younger players opportunities in the first team.”
Town are pretty well stocked for left-backs, but should Jackman and Liam Davis get injured will the Sixfields faithful be seeing Gray himself ‘among the subs’?
The answer: “No, but I think Sammo might be getting his boots out.”
Released Cobblers striker Leon Constantine has signed for Hereford United.
With Chris Doig having signed for Australian side Central Coast Mariners and Jason Crowe joining Leeds, it means only Colin Larkin is the only player without a club of the four released at the end of last season.
Former Town defender Brett Johnson has also found a new club, having agreed terms with Blue Square Premier outfit AFC Wimbledon.
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Weather for Northampton
Thursday 09 February 2012
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