Curle willing to offload players if the right offers come in

Cobblers boss Keith Curle will listen to offers for some of his fringe players this summer.

Curle released 13 players at the start of the month, including Alan McCormack, David Cornell and Jordan Turnbull, but he'd be happy to streamline his squad further ahead of Town's League One return, particularly if he signs his desired targets.

Matty Warburton (two), who signed from non-league Stockport County last summer, and Joe Martin (three) made just five league starts between them from November onwards, while Chris Lines also struggled to make the team towards the end of the season.

Asked if he would listen to offers for certain players, Curle said: "Yes, all the players that we've brought into the club want to play football.

"It's an ongoing conversation with the players because they need to be playing games and if they're not getting that game-time, their careers are not developing, improving or continuing.

"As and when we make new signings, there will be players who might see that their pathway for game-time isn't there as much as they would like."

This summer's transfer market is something of an unknown for managers following the impact of coronavirus. The financial implications will mean more free agents to pick from but reduced contract offers.

"I think the representatives of players are starting to realise that wage demands have to be more realistic in terms of what clubs can afford," added Curle.

"As a football club, we started to show good housekeeping from the time I came in because that was the remit that was given to me from the top of the club - we wanted and needed value for money.

"We had to make sure we were able to fulfil the contractual obligations that the club put in front of players and because of that, we're very strict on the value that we put on players."

Curle would not be drawn on which positions he's looking to strengthen in particular, adding: "We're looking for improvement as a club in the changing room because we want to maintain the character, the work ethic, the belief and the dynamic that we already have in there.

"We've re-signed a couple of players from last season and they've shown good value for money and good characteristics but they're also good people and I think that's vitally important because I want to work with people that I can get a response out of.

"I want to find out what makes them tick and I want them to have a hunger and a desire to improve, develop and win points for us."