Akinfenwa excited by SAC’s ‘big plans’ for Cobblers after Pato conversation
Former Cobblers striker and EFL cult hero Adebayo Akinfenwa is excited to see what Sports Alpha Capital (SAC) have planned for his old club following a recent encounter with Alexandre Pato.
The 44-year-old is fondly remembered by Northampton supporters for two popular spells at Sixfields, first between 2008 and 2010 and then again from 2011 to 2013, scoring 74 goals in 188 appearances.
Akinfenwa went on to represent AFC Wimbledon, Gillingham and Wycombe before retiring in 2023, but he still keeps a close eye on events at Sixfields, particularly in the wake of SAC’s takeover. The Brazilian-led consortium includes Pato.
The former Brazil and AC Milan striker met Akinfenwa to promote EA Sports FC 27 in Copenhagen at the end of September, just days before SAC’s takeover was confirmed.
Speaking to Eldorado this week, Akinfenwa said: “Stability is the key. I know what happens when a big consortium takes over.
“Pato is the face of it. I was with Pato in Copenhagen a couple of weeks ago and he was telling me, 'look, I'm buying one of your old clubs.' I said, 'that could have been any one of twelve, don't get the game twisted!'
“But he was asking me about it, and we had a real good energy. I told him, 'look man, my time at Northampton... great fans and there's great potential there.'
“So first and foremost, it's just about stability, and then they'll build from there. But yeah, man, they've got plans. Let me just say they might have big plans for Northampton, so I'm just throwing that out there!
“But it's stability first. I know fans are impatient and we want everything yesterday, that's just life, but they've got to trust the process. I think Wrexham has sometimes created an expectation where you just win, win, win.
“It doesn't always roll like that, you know what I'm saying? But then again, if you do have deep pockets, anything can happen in regards to that. Watch this space with Northampton. They've got real big plans for it.”