The Cobblers kicked off the new year with a 1-1 draw against Millwall at Sixfields. Dean Bowditch gave Stuart Gray's side the lead but after Poul Hubertz and Neil Harris had both been sent off Gary Alexander popped up in second half stoppage time to steel a point for the Lions.

All the pre-match talk had however been about Bradley Johnson with the club revealing that they had accepted a substantial bid for the midfielder from an unnamed Championship club. Later in the week though it was revealed that Bradley was in talks with Leeds. The club meanwhile managed to extend the loan spell of Daniel Jones from Wolves.

Ironically the Cobblers next opponents were Leeds and with Bradley Johnson again left out Town suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Elland Road.

A few days later and with Johnson completing his move to the former Champions League semi-finalists, the Cobblers snapped up Republic of Ireland under 21 winger Jonathan Hayes on loan from Leicester until the end of the season.

In what was a busy week for boss Gray the Cobblers also snapped up defender Mark Little on a month's loan from Wolves while Sam Aiston joined Wrexham on a permanent basis following a successful loan spell at the Racecourse Ground.

Back to the action on the field and Liam Dolman's first ever goal was not enough to secure all three points for the Cobblers against Hartlepool at Sixfields, the game ending 1-1 thanks to Ben Clark's effort for the visitors on the stroke of half-time.

As Gray continued to shuffle his pack, Andy Kirk joined Yeovil while former Swansea striker Adebayo Akinfenwa signed a deal at Sixfields until the end of the season.

The Cobblers returned to winning ways at Gillingham, Daniel Jones's sumptuous early free-kick sealing all three points for Gray's men.

In what was proving to be a hectic month in terms of transfers, Hungarian international defender Gabor Gyepes joined on a contract until the end of the season having worked with Gray at Wolves while Dean Bowditch returned to Ipswich following his two-month loan stint at Sixfields.

The club was meanwhile nominated for two Football League awards - best community Initiative for League 1 and Family Club of the Year for League 1. In addition, midfielder Alex Dyer was nominated for the Nivea for Men Apprentice Award for League One.

Friday night football then returned to Sixfields, a goal from Giles Coke and a Poul Hubertz penalty sealing an impressive 2-0 victory over early season pace setters Leyton Orient.

Following the game against Orient Daniel Jones returned to Wolves while defender Brett Johnson signed a deal keeping him at the club until the end of the season.

The club meanwhile confirmed that negotiations had been concluded with Northampton Borough Council to allow the development of a hotel at Sixfields.

The month ended with a narrow 1-0 home victory against Brighton, Mark Hughes's header just before half-time proving decisive.

That win lifted the Cobblers upto 11th in the table, 6 points adrift of Leeds who occupied the final play-off spot.

Stuart Gray was pipped to the manager of the month award by Swansea's Roberto Martinez.