McCormack 'can't speak highly enough' of Cobblers

Alan McCormack says he ‘can’t speak highly enough’ of the Cobblers for the way they looked after players, staff and fans during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2019/20 football season at all levels was suspended back on March 13 before the UK government ordered a nationwide lockdown a week later.

It would be three months until the Cobblers played again but while other clubs asked players to take pay cuts to mitigate for the loss of income, Kelvin Thomas and Northampton’s owners ensured all their staff, both playing and non-playing, would not be out of pocket.

The majority of supporters also turned down refunds on their season tickets despite missing the final nine games of the campaign, while the players repaid the favour by foregoing their bonuses for reaching the League Two play-offs.

“The way it was dealt with during the pandemic, from the owner, the CEO, the gaffer, all the way down through the staff, you can’t speak highly enough of the club and how we were treated as players and how the staff were looked after,” said McCormack.

“You saw all the phonecalls the players and the manager made to people in strict isolation. I think Keith did one virtually every day.

“Football is a huge part of a lot of communities especially in Northampton which is an unbelievable sporting town.

“Whether it’s football, rugby or cricket, sport is a massive part of people’s lives and for that to be taken away from then and to now have that at the weekends, was a big loss.”

McCormack was released by Keith Curle last month but he will always hold fond memories of his 12 months at the Cobblers.

He added: “With how people at the club reacted and then how the fans reacted back, it just shows how good the club is and how good the town is because it really brought people together and to finish it off by winning the play-offs.

“The fans didn’t ask for refunds on their tickets and the players didn’t take their bonuses and that showed the togetherness of everyone and hopefully now Northampton can attract more fans when football returns.”

Although he’ll be 37 by the time next season ends, McCormack is determined to find a new club carry on playing.

“I’ve got no desire to hang up the boots just yet,” he added. “Unless a really good opportunity comes up away from football, I want to get a contract somewhere next season.”