Thomas paints bleak financial picture for Cobblers after COVID - but hopes to be boosted by Premier League package

Chairman Kelvin Thomas admits the financial situation is 'not pretty' for the Cobblers following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Northampton have played just three games since March - all behind closed doors - while the majority of clubs in League One and League Two haven't played at all in the last six months.

And that shortfall of income will continue at the start of the new season with supporters not allowed back into stadiums until October at the earliest.

The Cobblers are better off than many in the bottom two divisions of the EFL, particularly after receiving a seven-figure fee for captain Charlie Goode, but there is no doubt these are difficult times for all football clubs.

"The financial situation is not pretty," admitted Thomas. "It's not straightforward but we've obviously adjusted our budgets.

"We've got what we would call a typical League One budget in terms of where we would usually be. We're some way off that but we've got an adjusted budget which we'll be working towards.

"That adjusted budget doesn't include fans returning in October because we always budget conservatively. Season tickets is a good example of that because we actually budgeted for last season's season ticket number.

"Normally we'd expect a 15, 20 per cent increase following promotion but we said we would budget on last season's number, and very pleasingly - and we can only thank the fans for their level of support - we went above budget slightly.

"We've definitely got more season ticket holders than last year. It's not at the numbers we would typically expect but we feel comfortable because of the budget we're working towards.

"So clearly it will have a financial impact but we're ready for it and we're prepared for it and if we can do good deals around the recruitment then that helps."

Thomas also revealed that the EFL are in conversation with the government and the Premier League over providing a financial package to offset some of the losses for clubs lower down the pyramid.

He added: "We're not panicking, especially as the EFL have discussed with the government and the Premier League about a package to try and mitigate some of the losses around fans not being in the ground.

"We look forward to seeing what that will look like in the next couple of weeks to help mitigate our losses, but the reality is that if we get to play Sunderland when there's no fans, that will have an impact and we will have a loss of income.

"Every club around the country is in the same position but it is what it is and we'll deal with it as we normally deal with it. We'll take it on the chin and make the best of it."