Wilder: Cobblers ‘supporters and team at one together’

The well-documented off-field problems continue to circle overhead at Sixfields, but Wilder says he is ‘staying well out of that’, and just concentrating on making sure the team fires on the pitch.

The Cobblers are unbeaten in five league matches and welcome a struggling Hartlepool side to town on Saturday, and the north east outfit are unlikely to bring too many supporters south.

Town’s past two home matches against Oxford United and Leyton Orient have seen the south stand packed to ensure a crackling atmosphere.

That is unlikely to be the case on Saturday, but Wilder is calling on his players and the club’s loyal supporters to ensure the atmosphere is a vibrant and positive one at Sixfields.

“We feel the supporters and team are at one together, and that is vital that sticks together,” said Wilder.

“This is a different home game for us on Saturday, because it is a long way to come for the Hartlepool punters, and Leyton Orient and Oxford filled that away end.

“We are going to have to create our own atmosphere and environment, and the players really have to start on the front foot and get after the opposition.

“I am sure that the support, as they always have done, will help us in trying to gain another three valuable points.”

And referring to the off-field issues, with the proposed takeover still rumbling on and the club now having less than a week to come to a deal over the repayment of a £10m loan from the Borough Council, Wilder said: “We will just keep working as hard as we can to ensure the football side of it goes along as smoothly as possible, and I am sure everything off the pitch will take care of itself,”