No bids for Goode, but Thomas insists clubs will have to dig deep if they want Cobblers skipper

The Town chairman says there has been no offers for the 24-year-old, but accepts that the interest in Goode ‘has ramped up’ following his outstanding performances last season, and the way he led the club to victory in the Sky Bet League Two play-off final last month.

He has today been linked with a £750,000 switch to Championship side Middlesbrough, while other clubs such as Queens Park Rangers and league one rivals Sunderland are also rumoured to be interested.

Signed for an undisclosed fee from Scunthorpe United last summer, Goode still has two years left to run on his Cobblers contract, and Thomas insists there is no financial pressure on boss Keith Curle to sell one of Town’s prized assets.

But he also accepts that if a big club comes knocking, then the decision could be taken out of the club’s hands.

“I have spoken to Charlie about it before, and I think the interest has ramped up,” Thomas told the club website.

“When Charlie came into the club, Keith spoke to him about being captain and agreed with him that if he came in and did well then we certainly wouldn’t stand in his way if a Championship or Premier League-type big club came in for him.

“We live by what we said, but it is going to take a significant fee for that to happen, and that was always the agreement, that it would always take a fee.

"I am not sure what the club record is (£500,000 for goalkeeper Bunn), but I am sure that any type of deal that we would be looking for would be a club record deal, but there is nothing on paper at the moment.

"There has been some interest, but we haven’t even indicated numbers.

“We have told clubs that if they really are interested in Charlie then they need to make an offer and go through the appropriate channels, and we will discuss it on its merits.

“Keith and myself have a fantastic relationship with Charlie, and the lad wants to come in and do well whatever happens.

“Even if there is discussion all the way up to the end of the transfer window, we are 100 per cent confident that Charlie will put in the performances when required in a Northampton Town shirt.”

And he added: “The good news is, even though we have some challenges due to Covid-19, we have told Keith there is no reason to sell Charlie financially, but we will look at things on merit.

“There is a reality, and it is sometimes not just a club decision, sometimes it has to be a decision made with three parties, as you have the club that’s interested in purchasing the player, the player themselves and Northampton Town.

"So we will do what’s in the best interests of the club.”

And Thomas also made it clear that if Goode leaves, he has confidence that Curle and chief scout Simon Tracey will find a suitable replacement.

“Keith and Simon, the recruitment team and the coaching staff identified Charlie, worked with Charlie and improved Charlie,” said Thomas.

“So we have every faith that would happen again if we did have to accept a deal."