Northampton Town sign Clarke Carlisle and Ben Harding

Carlisle is the chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association

Northampton Town have signed Burnley defender Clarke Carlisle on loan until the end of the season and Ben Harding from Wycombe on a free transfer.

Carlisle, 32, had been on loan at Preston, but that deal ended and Burnley no longer want Carlisle - who worked with Aidy Boothroyd at Watford.

Midfielder Harding, 27, was already on loan at Sixfields and has now agreed an 18-month deal.

He has played five times for the Cobblers this season.

Meanwhile, the Cobblers have released defender Ashley Corker and keeper Paul Walker by mutual consent and handed contracts to Neal Kitson and Lewis Wilson.

Keeper Kitson, 26, arrives from American club Rochester Rhinos and striker Wilson joins from Newport Pagnell Town. Both have agreed deals until the summer.

Carlisle is studying a two-year degree course at Staffordshire University.

The former England Under-21 international is also the Professional Footballers' Association chairman and began his career at Blackpool.

"He is a very strong character on and off the pitch, and he is just the sort of player we need to help us get the club back to where we believe we should be," said Cobblers manager Boothroyd.

During the 2009-10 season, Carlisle made a successful appearance on Channel Four quiz Countdown and was also a guest on the BBC's Question Time panel.