Malcolm Crosby first worked with Ian Sampson in his days at Sunderland

Northampton Town assistant manager Malcolm Crosby says that the promotion-chasing Cobblers are not planning to make a host of summer signings.

All but five of Ian Sampson's squad will be out of contract on 30 June.

But Northampton, three points shy of a League Two play-off place, are still in the hunt for a return to League One and not certain what level they will be at.

"We don't want to be bringing too many new players into the club," Crosby told BBC Radio Northampton.

"We want to keep the majority, because we believe they are good enough to do well in this league and step up to another level.

"You don't know if the players you're bringing in are as good as what you've got."

Crosby knows that there will be clubs interested in their best players.

We've got to make them see that the long-term future is good with us Malcolm Crosby

"Other clubs will have been watching them playing well," he admitted. "It's not always about the money side.

"They've got to be enjoying their football and I think that's what they're doing.

"We've got to sell the club to them, and make them see that the long-term future is good with us."

Crosby, who spent 14 months as Sunderland manager in the early 1990s, joined the Cobblers in September following his departure from Middlesbrough in June as No2 to Gareth Southgate.

In the wake of manager Ian Sampson having signed a new three-year deal last week, Crosby is expected to shortly commit to a similar contract.

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