Chris Wilder: Northampton Town target Oxford United manager

Northampton Town are interested in Oxford United boss Chris Wilder becoming their new manager, reports BBC Radio Oxford.

The Cobblers, currently bottom of League Two, have been managerless since they sacked Aidy Boothroyd in December.

Wilder, whose contract ends in the summer, declined to give his usual pre-match briefing to the press on Friday.

On Thursday, Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh said he was approached to take the job at Sixfields.

Andy King has been in caretaker charge since Boothroyd was sacked on 21 December.

Cobblers chairman David Cardoza said on Monday that he was "talking to one or two people" and "waiting for situations to unfold".

He added that the new manager, when appointed, will be given "significant money" to strengthen the squad.

Wilder was interviewed for the vacant position at Portsmouth in December, eventually losing out to Richie Barker.

He has been manager at the U's since 2008, taking them into the Football League, and was handed a new one-year contract at the end of last season.

Assistant manager Mickey Lewis was sent to conduct Oxford's pre-match press briefing and said he hoped Wilder would remain at the Kassam Stadium.

When asked who would be in charge for Saturday's League Two match against Torquay, Lewis told BBC Radio Oxford: "Chris Wilder. I hope so, yes, that's all I know and I want that to be the case."

Oxford are currently seventh in the League two table, six points adrift of leaders Scunthorpe.