Midfielder Beautyman delighted to join '˜a team on the up' in Cobblers

The 24-year-old was signed for an undisclosed fee from Northampton’s rivals Peterborough United on Thursday, the player putting pen to paper on a two-year contract.

The former Leyton Orient trainee has spent the past 20 months as a league one player with Posh, and is delighted to be staying in the division next season as a Cobblers player, and he believes Rob Page’s men are capable of going well.

Plenty has changed since the Cobblers wrapped up their title-winning campaign at Portsmouth on May 7, with manager Chris Wilder and his asssitant leaving, along with key players such as Ricky Holmes, Nicky Adams and Danny Rose among others.

But Beautyman believes the fact that new manager Rob Page has managed to keep the bulk of the squad together, and added to it with seven new signings to date, is a real positive.

“I know a couple of the boys here at Northampton so I spoke to them, and I have heard nothing but good things about the club,” said Beautyman, who is friends with Gaby Zakuani and Alex Revell.

“They did superbly last season and ran away with the league title, and they have kept the majority of the squad, and it looks like it’s a team on the up.

“Keeping your players always helps, having that winning mentality in a team and the momentum that is going to bring into the season.

“The club has brought in some good players, and it is a new chapter for me that I am excited about.

“I have had a look round and the place is beautiful, the facilities are really good, and everybody has been really good to me so far.”

Beautyman also says he has no regrets about leaving near neighbours Peterborough, although he admits he really enjoyed his time at London Road.

“That’s football for you, and it happens,” said Beautyman when asked if he was sorry to be quitting Posh.

“I had a really good time there, the fans were good to me, the club was really good to me, but it got to the stage where we parted ways.

“I heard Northampton was interested, and I wanted to come here. As soon as I got here and looked around, it was a no-brainer for me.”

Beautyman knew his days were numbered at Peterborough with the appointment of Grant McCann as manager, and he was placed on the transfer list at the end of last season.

“All managers have their own opinions, and their own styles of play or whatever,” said the former Sutton United and Welling man.

“I played a lot of games under Darren Ferguson, I played a lot of games under Graham Westley, and it is just one of those things.

“You can have managers who really like you and buy into what you are all about, and you can have one where you are just not for them.

“That is football and it happens, but there are no hard feelings and no regrets, I am just excited about this move and what will happen now.”

Posh boss McCann wished Beautyman well, and said: “It is a good move for Harry because it is fairly local so he shouldn’t have to move.

“I spoke to him at the back end of last season and explained that I didn’t think I could give him the first team football that he wanted.

“We have a lot of competition for places in midfield with Jermaine Anderson back to fitness, Leonardo Da Silva Lopes making great strides and the additions of Brad Inman and Gwion Edwards.

“Harry has played in a couple of games for us during pre-season and we wish him well at Northampton.”

So what sort of player can the Cobblers suppporters expect to see when Beautyman makes his bow in Town colours in next Tuesday’s pre-season friendly against Wolves at Sixfields?

“I am very energetic and get about the pitch,” said the player who hails from the east end of London.

“I am a box-to-box midfielder, and I like to make it into the attacking box as much as possible.

“I like to put tackles in and I try to be an all-rounder, but my energetic side is probably my main strength.”