Manager Stuart Gray has urged his Northampton players to maintain their steady improvement and build a challenge for the play-offs next season.The Cobblers, who lie eight points off the last play-off place, will probably have to settle for a mid-table finish this season, but Gray believes it could prove to be an ideal spring board for a strong promotion push next season.

"The initial goal was to beat 58 points and finish higher than we did last season," he told the Northampton Chronicle.

"At this moment we're on course to do that. But you have to set new goals and next season we have to beat that again. I'm challenging the players and I'm challenging myself as well."

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