Curle already on the hunt for Goode's replacement

Keith Curle is already on the search for a couple of new centre-backs following Charlie Goode's departure to Brentford, although the Cobblers boss is not necessarily after a 'like-for-like' replacement.

Goode was outstanding for the Cobblers during 2019/20, both as a defender and as a leader, and will take quite some replacing as the club make the step up to League One.

With Goode heading to the Championship, Scott Wharton back at Blackburn Rovers and Jordan Turnbull leaving for Salford City, the Cobblers are in need of a whole new back-line.

New signing Fraser Horsfall, who only joined last week, is the solitary senior centre-back on the club's books, however Curle is not in any rush to find a replacement for his captain.

"Sometimes you don't go like-for-like and instead you find another combination that works, whether that is a change of system or a change of personnel," said Curle.

"Obviously it will be a change in personnel in this situation but what we don't do is put pressure on the next player to come in and be the next Charlie Goode.

"It's a case of bringing in players that have got their own profile and their own areas that they need to work on and develop, and also strengths that we can utilise.

"There's no pressure for someone to come in and be the next project. We bring in players that we think are on a similar curve to ourselves, which is an upward curve, and will benefit us as a team."

The seven-figure fee for Goode will provide a handy little boost to the transfer kitty, but Curle insists the well-being of the club, particularly during the current climate, is paramount.

"The first thing to say is that this football club has paid out a lot of money at a difficult time, financially," he added.

"We'll have a meeting before the season starts and before the window closes and it is all about housekeeping and finding out about the different scenarios because we need to know when supporters are coming back and what the restrictions will be on how many are allowed in.

"We're a business and we need to make sure we can pay our bills. Some football clubs this season are going to get found out but the structure and the planning we put in place here means we give ourselves a good platform to work from.

"It's not all about how much you spend, it's about the availability of money at the right time because that's important."