Northampton Town: Council leader says sale announcement 'too early'

David Cardoza took over Northampton Town in 2003 but is now in talks to sell the club

A chairman's announcement his football club was being sold has only created uncertainty, a council leader has said.

Chairman David Cardoza said in June he was in talks with an Indian consortium for the takeover of Northampton Town.

Fans had "nothing to be concerned about" despite not knowing the identity of the potential new owners, he said.

But Mary Markham, leader of Northampton Borough Council, also involved in the talks, said a "premature announcement" unsettled fans and players.

Cobblers fans said earlier in the week they were planning a peaceful protest before Saturday's League Two match against Oxford United over Mr Cardoza's running of the club.

A three-way meeting between the council, the club and the potential buyers due this week was called off, adding further uncertainty.

Mrs Markham said Cobblers' chairman Mr Cardoza had brought much of the criticism on himself by announcing the potential sale of the club too early - 11 weeks ago.

Northampton Town played Newcastle in the League Cup last month

In June Mr Cardoza broke the news he had signed a heads of terms agreement with an unnamed Indian consortium to buy the club.

Mrs Markham said all that did was create widespread uncertainty and impatience.

"The potential buyers are serious and don't want to be identified until they know they're buying the club," Mr Cardoza said.

"There's no mystery about it, once they've done all their due diligence then they'll put their name to it. Nothing mysterious in the slightest.

"The fans have nothing to be concerned about."

Mrs Markham said players and fans really mattered and "they're uncertain about who is going to own the club".

"The players are unsettled yet are expected to go out and deliver every Saturday afternoon and Tuesday night without knowing who is running the club.

"All this is because an announcement was made too early."