Richards says Cobblers players not targeting title win ‘shouldn’t be at this club’

And he feels that any player who doesn’t have that mindset ‘shouldn’t be at this club’.

Town endured a disappointing end to the Sky Bet League Two season, dropping out of the play-off picture thanks to a run of poor results over the final 10 games of the campaign.

Chris Wilder’s side claimed just eight points out of a possible 30 in that run-in, ultimately finishing in 12th place.

Richards accepted that he and the rest of the players were not happy they didn’t at least get into the top 10, but he did stress what an improvement the performance was on the previous year when the club only avoided relegation on the final day.

But now Richards, who signed on a three-year deal last summer after leavng Chesterfield, is targeting a major improvement, and demanding that all the players who return for pre-season, existing squad members and new signings alike, aim for the highest position possible when the new campaign begins in August.

“We need to come into pre-season, and go into next season with a real desire to go and win the league,” said Richards, who was the club’s top scorer with 18 goals in his first campaign back at Sixfields, and voted the supporters’ player of the year.

“I think ultimately, if you don’t have that in your head, then you shouldn’t be at this club.

“The lads should come back firing and wanting to win the league, simple as that.”

The Cobblers players report back for pre-season on June 22.