Cobblers boss Ian Sampson now has six players to choose from up front

Northampton Town boss Ian Sampson says Adebayo Akinfenwa will definitely not be leaving during the transfer window.

The Cobblers' nine-goal top scorer was linked with a move to Swansea City during the last transfer window.

But, despite this week signing another forward, Stephen O'Flynn, Sampson insists: "Adebayo is in our plans.

"I'd expect there to be interest but he's our main striker and he'll be a Cobblers player in February," Sampson told BBC Radio Northampton.

"We're the wrong end of the table and we need our best players."

O'Flynn's arrival from Limerick has simply added to the competition for striking places at Sixfields.

Sampson already had Akinfenwa, Steve Guinan, Billy McKay, Courtney Herbert and Gary Mulligan to choose from up front.

But he insists that competition for places will keep them all on their toes.

"The ones that are in the team need to keep scoring and that keeps them happy," said Sampson. "The other ones have got to fight for the place.

"Good competition is healthy for the squad and hopefully that'll push the players in the team harder.

"The decision of leaving people out is up to me."

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