Caretaker manager Andy King has given the job his best shot but, with the final week of the transfer window approaching, Town are set to name a new permanent manager and try to gain some kind of stability both on and off the pitch.
Chris Wilder appears to be that man and he handed in his resignation as Oxford United boss on Saturday after over 5 years in charge of the U's during which he led them to promotion from the Conference and firmly established them as a League Two club.
The search for Aidy Boothroyd's successor had become a long process and an approach for a rival League Two manager seemed an unlikely route to finding the right man to steer a club away from the bottom of the Football League.
But, fair play to the Cobblers, they have seemingly tempted Wilder to swap 6th in the table for 24th in the hope that he is the manager to lead the club to a brighter future.
***Update*** Wilder has disputed the claim of his own chairman that he has offered his resignation but with such a disagreement between two key men at the same club will he be there for much longer?