Carr believes Cobblers must target 'two centre-forwards' this summer

Graham Carr believes the Cobblers need to hit the ground running this summer by recruiting two centre-forwards before anything else.

Town's lack of goals en route to relegation was well documented last season, with no player hitting double figures and Danny Rose the club's top-scoring striker with just four league goals.

Harry Smith, Benny Ashley-Seal, Caleb Chukwuemeka and Rose remain under contract for next season, but manager Jon Brady will want to bring in more firepower up front.

"I just think it's about finding good players if you want to get promoted," said Carr. "In my opinion, I think we should sign two strikers and then focus on the rest. I would make that the two most important positions to fill.

"I've always said in football that you can manufacture defenders but you can't manufacture centre-forwards. They did very well with the two central defenders last season, (Fraser) Horsfall and (Lloyd) Jones, and they've made them better players,

"Jon has mentioned to the chairman the systems that he wants to play and they'll look to find the players that will fit into that - but it's not as easy as you might think to get players to come to the club.

"But if I was the manager, I'd go to the owner and I would want a striker first and foremost and you've also got to hit the fans with a good signing because it's no good signing some journeyman player.

"You've got to sign the right type of player."

Carr also believes Brady will get the backing of chairman Kelvin Thomas to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion next season.

"I had a meeting with Kelvin and he's very positive," he added. "I know people sometimes get on at him but I think he's a very good frontman for this club and he has a lot of things going for him.

"He was very positive towards Jon and I think Jon will get all the backing he can give him. For the last three or four years since I started coming here regularly, the chairman has backed every manager.

"I don't think a manager has gone to Kelvin and he's refused them a player that's within the budget."