Cobblers say 'progress has been made in East Stand talks with Northampton Borough Council'

Northampton Town Football Club believes 'progress has been made' in the long-running discussions with the council to redevelop the East Stand at Sixfields.

Cobblers want to build on Northampton Borough Council-owned (NBC) land next to the PTS Academy Stadium but the council has previously insisted on the stand being finished first.

The deal between council and the football club will mean the proceeds of any subsequent development are shared between the two parties.

A potential £3m budget cap for the stand and a deadline of July 31 have reportedly been set for the agreement to be signed, according to BBC News.

A club spokesman said: “The football club continues to work through the options with NBC regarding the East Stand and wider land development around the PTS Academy Stadium, however for any agreement to be formalised, it is still understood the process will require cabinet approval.

“The overriding principle, as it always has been, is the development of the East Stand and that is an agreed point with NBC.

"In addition, NBC will need to demonstrate best value for any disposal of the freehold land, which is also accepted by the football club.

“The football club does feel it has made progress in these discussions together with NBC.”

The East Stand at Sixfields has been a long-running issue dating back to the failed £10.25 million loan from the council to the club in 2014.

Work began in the summer of 2015 but stalled early the following year due to the financial crisis that engulfed the club, leading to a criminal investigation.

Seats were installed in March 2016 but nothing has happened since, despite the club and council issuing statements insisting their discussions have been positive.

The council spokesman said: “It’s been no secret for some time that the football club has been keen to pursue the development of land in the area of the Sixfields stadium, and has put forward ideas for a number of possible development schemes.

“The club and the council continue to have discussions on a range of matters, however, should a development deal progress, then the East Stand of the stadium absolutely must be built before any further development takes place, and any deal must deliver best value for the taxpayer.”