Giving up bonuses was the least we could do, says 'forever grateful' McCormack

Cobblers midfielder Alan McCormack says he and his team-mates will be 'forever grateful' for the way the club have supported them during the coronavirus pandemic.

And it's because of that support and loyalty that the players have opted to turn down the bonus money and appearance fees they would be due for reaching the Sky Bet League Two play-offs.

"A lot of people would have seen Nicky Adams' interview the other day and he hit the nail on the head in terms of how impressed and how grateful we are as players for how the club have backed us during this," said McCormack.

"From the moment it started, there was a lot of the talk of what might happen with the furlough scheme with players being asked to take wage cuts or deferrals, but our club instantly got in touch with us.

"We had a massive Zoom call and the chairman has been in contact with the senior boys every week and we've always been kept in the loop and little things like that go a hell of a long way and as players we will be forever grateful for how they've treated us and how they've kept in contact with us."

Like Adams, McCormack says the decision to forgo their bonus money was a simple one to take.

He added: "Everything's been in the open and everything's been truthful and they've stuck to their word and when the question was put to us last week about foregoing our bonuses for the play-offs, it was non-negotiable because everyone straightaway said 'yep, we're happy to do that'.

"It only took a brief conversation in our main group chat when we asked the question and it was not a problem. We've not heard many good stories in terms of how clubs have treated their players and still are treating their players and we'd hate to be in that position.

"To be treated the way we have been, it was the absolute least we could do as a group of players. The main thing now is to get the club promotion because that will show our gratitude and it'll be a thank you to the chairman, the gaffer and to everyone involved at the club who's worked tirelessly behind the scenes."