In May 2009 the Saints announced that an agreement had been reached with ASDA that would see Car Park D become a food store that would serve the growing communities of Upton and St James. The income received by the club would then be used to develop not just a new North Stand that would increase capacity by 25% but also 1,000 car parking spaces closer to the stadium than the existing Car Park D.

However the 'town centre first' policy of the Northampton Borough Council leadership has thus far proved to be unsupportive of the proposed development, and both Barwell and Robson have warned that if the expansion does not go ahead it could mean the moving of games away from the town.

"The new stand is vitally important to the club," Barwell told www.northamptonsaints.co.uk. "Leicester have increased their ground to 24,000, which translates into millions of pounds more gate revenue than us. We have to keep up. It's very, very, very disappointing that the Liberal Democrats in Northampton have been so anti-sport."

Brian Binley, MP for Northampton South, today visited the club with Bob Neil MP, Under Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government. He said that the club is vitally important to Northampton.

"The Saints mean a great deal to Northampton, to our community, our tradition, our history and to the profile of the town," he told www.northamptonsaints.co.uk. "That is why I want the Borough Council to recognise the importance and to change their attitude from one of seemingly not being very helpful to becoming more supportive and helpful.

"If the Saints had to move games to Milton Keynes it would be a disaster for the town. The fact that we are one of the top four clubs in the country gives us a profile that we couldn't get any other way.

"While I want to see the town centre thrive and grow and while I think the Grosvenor project is an important one, it can't be at the expense of the needs of the rest of the town. We've got to look at the town of the whole."

Meanwhile ASDA's head of planning and property communications, Jonathan Refoy, has told the Chronicle and Echo that the food retailer was still committed to the development.

"We're incredibly committed to the deal," he said. "The tie-up with the Saints not only gives us the opportunity for a new store, but also to link up with one of Britain's most iconic sports clubs. We're still working very hard to make it happen."

To see the full interviews with Keith Barwell and Brian Binley MP, visit the Saints' official Facebook page by clicking here.

Click here for more information about the proposed development of Franklin's Gardens.