Adams hopes to finally have a crack at League One

Club captain Nicky Adams hopes to finally have a crack at League One next season after the Cobblers were promoted to the third tier via the play-offs on Monday evening.

The 33-year-old has now won four promotions from League Two in the last six seasons but on each of the previous three occasions he dropped back down to the EFL's bottom division.

He did that twice with Bury and once with the Cobblers when leaving for Keith Curle's Carlisle United in 2016 following Town's title success.

This time, though, Adams is determined to test himself against some of the biggest clubs in England.

He said: "I think I might actually go and have a go at League One this time! When I came back to this club last summer, I said I had unfinished business.

"I didn't want to leave in the first place. I respect the decision and everything happens for a reason, but I got to sign for Keith Curle and now things have come full circle."

Cobblers secured their return to League One when they crushed Exeter City 4-0 in the play-off final at Wembley on Monday, taking a very different route to promotion compared to when they last went up in 2016.

Back then, Chris Wilder's side romped to the title by 13 points and looked well set to compete in League One, however a disappointing couple of seasons followed and they were relegated back to League Two in 2018.

Adams doesn't want a repeat next season, adding: "Let's go and have a crack at League One now. The last the club reached that league it didn't go too well but that can happen to anyone.

"Unfortunately it went wrong but we've just to do keep our focus and keep the same mentality. It'll be difficult because you look at League One and look at the teams in the division - Sunderland, Ipswich, Portsmouth - and they're big clubs.

"There will also be teams coming down from the Championship. It's a relentless league and we know it's going to be tough but that group of boys deserves to play in those big stadiums so I'm buzzing for everyone."