'A bigger mountain to climb' for Northampton Town

Northampton Town forward Sam Hoskins will be hoping to be the club's top scorer once again

It all starts again for Northampton Town this weekend with a trip to Bristol Rovers as the new Football League season begins.

The Cobblers kept the bottom four at arm’s length in League One last season, finishing 14th and sixteen points clear of the drop zone.

That will be the aim again this season but it does not look an easy task.

League One is packed full of fallen giants and financial powerhouses.

Realistically, six of the seven new teams in the division, with the possible exception of Crawley Town, have bigger budgets than the Cobblers and that is despite the investment by new part-owner Nigel Le Quesne.

Northampton’s success last season was built on continuity. Key players stayed. Key loanee’s Kieron Bowie and Marc Leonard returned.

This summer is a different story. forward Bowie has signed for Hibernian, midfielder Leonard is at Birmingham City, and key defender Sam Sherring has dropped down a division to sign for MK Dons.

Northampton Town manager Jon Brady begins his fourth full season in charge

The spine of the team has needed replacing and the Cobblers have gone down a more experienced route.

Jon Brady has brought in two strikers to complement last season's top scorer Sam Hoskins up front.

Tom Eaves joins from Rotherham United to give the side a real physical presence, while fan favourite Callum Morton returns on loan from Salford City after his promotion-winning exploits with the Cobblers in 2020.

Cameron McGeehan offers a goal threat from midfield and much is expected of Fulham loanee Matt Dibley-Dias, who has Leonard-sized boots to fill.

Eight new players have arrived so far but more are needed according to Brady.

"It’s probably a bigger mountain to climb this season than last season," he said.

"I’d say success again, but if I’m brutally honest, it is maintaining our League One status."

With Brady at the helm they have every chance of doing so.

You can hear full coverage this season on BBC Sounds.