Cobblers boss Wilder's relief as east stand plans are revealed

The last time supporters were able to sit in the east stand was the final day of the 2013/14 season, when the Cobblers beat Oxford United 3-1 to secure their Football League survival

The club announced on Thursday that they are undertaking phase one of the refurbishment of the stand that hasn’t had a supporter sit in it since May, 2014.

It has been a building site and little more than a shell for the past two years, but chairman Kelvin Thomas confirmed that almost 2,000 seats will be in place for the final four games of the campaign, and that is music to the ears of Wilder.

“Everybody is a little bit sick and tired of whatever angle they look at the stand,” said the Cobblers boss.

AS IT WAS - the old east stand at Sixfields

“It has been a long time and I know a lot of work has had to be done to get us into this position to put some seats in, but it certainly benefits everybody.

“It benefits me, not having to look over at an empty stand, it benefits the players because they will have more support in the ground, which is fantastic and richly deserved with the run they are on and the football they are playing at the moment.

“Every time we drive past the sign outside, nine times out of 10 it says ‘sold out’, which is great for everybody.

“And it’s also a benefit to the supporters, as we can get more supporters in to watch us play, it means it will be a better environment, a better atmosphere, even though the atmosphere at all the games has been great.

Work began on the redevelopment of the east stand in the summer of 2014, but has never been completed

“It just benefits everybody and shows we mean business, shows what the chairman and backers are all about in wanting to take the club forward, and it is hopefully the start of getting that stand up and running.”