UPDATED: Cobblers '˜part company' with boss Dean Austin

The club announced on Sunday night that the boss has left the club, a day after Town’s 4-0 Sky Bet League Two hammering at Mansfield Town.

Austin was only handed the job on a permanent basis in the summer, following a five-match stint as caretaker following the sacking of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in April.

A statement from the club, issued at 8.45pm on Sunday night, read: “Northampton Town can confirm following discussions that they have parted company with manager Dean Austin.

“Dean has worked extremely hard for the football club both last season and this. We thank him for his efforts and we wish him well for the future.

“More details will follow on Monday.”

Austin leaves the club with the Cobblers 21st in league two, having claimed just seven points from their opening 10 league fixtures, as well as going out out of the Carabao Cup at the first round stage and losing their opening Checkatrade Triophy group match - both to Wycombe Wanderers.

Town have won just once in the league, against Colchester United earlier this month, and go into October just two points above the relegation zone, without having won at home in any competition since April 20.

Overall, including his five-match caretaker spell, Austin has won only three of his 16 matches in charge.

Saturday’s humbling defeat at Mansfield proved to be the last straw, with Austin’s emotional post-match interview raising eyebrows.

The finger was pointed at the players as a clearly angry and frustrated Austin, who joined the club as assistant to Hasselbaink in September, 2017, lost his cool and made it clear he felt let down by the Town squad.

The Cobblers have now gone through four managers in the space of 28 months since Chris Wilder left the club, with the club being relegated from league one last season and now in serious danger of dropping out of the Football League altogether.