Nolan 'knew it would be a tough season' for Cobblers due to 'very low' budget compared to League One rivals
Kevin Nolan admits he feared Cobblers were in for a ‘tough season’ due to the club’s ‘very low’ transfer budget following another disappointing evening at Rotherham.
Despite posting record losses last year, it is no secret that Northampton have one of the lowest budgets in League One, such is the way the football landscape has become so distorted in recent seasons, especially in the EFL’s bottom two divisions.
In a recent interview, chairman Kelvin Thomas said: "We're losing £2.5million on an annual basis and that's just purely down to inflation and how much costs have gone up. We're further away from the top three now than 10 years ago but we're still losing £2.5million. There’s no hiding from the fact that it now costs a lot more money to be pretty much in the same place. That’s the reality of the situation and as owners we recognise we have to spend that money just to stay competitive.”
The club’s disadvantage in the transfer market is being reflected on the pitch at present as Town’s dismal run stretched to one win in 10 games with defeat at Rotherham on Tuesday.
“We knew it was going a tough season and we never shied away from that with the resources and everything else that we have,” said Nolan afterwards. "Our budget is very low in this division compared to a lot of teams. Even Rotherham, they are well below where they would have expected to be.
"The teams around us have spent lots of money on their squads this season and some of the teams who were probably expected to be around us have done well and battled well their way up. But all we can do is look at ourselves and look at what we can do. We were always going to be battling against it this season, no matter what, but we knew that and we will battle and we'll get there, I really believe that.”
Having appeared in such control for an hour at Rotherham, Cobblers wilted once Harry Gray headed the home side level.
"It's a bit of everything,” added Nolan. “The lads are in a difficult moment and they're finding it even harder when the heat's on. We need to find our calmness again and get back to what we are.
"I'm bitterly disappointed with the goals because we work every day on set-pieces and there's not much more you can do. The players have to go out there and do it in the heat of battle. That's when you have to have clear minds and clear heads and not overthink it – just do your job, but the second half wasn't good enough.”