In the Saints' match day programme on Saturday, the Conservative MP will back the leader of the opposition on Northampton Borough Council, Councillor David Palethorpe, who last month threw his weight behind the rugby club's expansion plans, which include building an Asda store close to Franklin's Gardens.

Mr Binley said: "We should never underestimate the importance of having such high-quality sporting teams which add greatly to the town's national and international profile.

"But our borough council seems not to understand. Indeed, they actually seem hell-bent on doing all they can to hinder both the Saints and the Cobblers from fulfilling their ambitious plans for a successful future."

The Cobblers have had long-term plans to expand their ground by redeveloping land around the Sixfields stadium and the Saints revealed their own expansion scheme last year.

But the leaders of Northampton Borough Council have insisted any improvements must focus on the town centre first, an approach dismissed by Mr Binley.

He said: "To put a ring fence around the town centre, and argue no business can exist anywhere else in the town which might harm the wellbeing of the town centre, is not only foolish, it flies in the face of local need. Its crass stupidity baffles me."

The full story is in the Chronicle and Echo from Friday, February 5th - click here to read it online!

The deal between the Saints and ASDA, announced in May 2009, would allow the club to continue its financial independence.

The proposed ASDA food store would represent a £40 million investment into west Northampton. It would serve the areas of Sixfields, St James and Upton, itself identified as a major residential growth area that has just one mid-sized supermarket within easy reach. The proposed ASDA would provide up to 400 jobs, as well as jobs during the construction period, in addition to more choice for local consumers.

The proposed development of Franklin's Gardens would cost in the region of £7 million, including £1 million on a new 1,000 space car park that would see the number of car parking spaces at the stadium increase. The capacity of Franklin's Gardens would increase from its present 13,500 to 17,000. At present the club does not have an alternative source of funding for the proposed new North Stand.

For more information about the proposed development, and to send us your views and support, click here!