NORTHAMPTON Town's bitter feud with Preston escalated further before last weekend's clash at Deepdale.

Following last year's on-pitch brawl, the Cobblers refused to let sleeping dogs lie when PNE asked to change the time of Saturday's game because of the England v Poland game.

Astonishingly, Northampton said no - unless PNE covered their hotel bill, travelling expenses and forked out a four-figure compensation fee sum.

Finance director Tony Scholes said: "They wouldn't play Friday or Sunday and would only consider 1pm on Saturday.

"The hotel bill was probably justified and we might have helped out with the travelling costs.

"But when they asked for a match fee on top we said 'No' because of the principle of it.

"They were totally unreasonable and totally over the top."

But despite the clash of times, 10,686 turned out to watch PNE thump three past Northampton.

The attendance was 500 down on the season's average and 2,000 down on the last two home games.

Deputy chairman Derek Shaw described the gate as smashing.

Nearby Wigan Athletic, who also played at 3pm against Stoke City, could only manage a gate of 4,133.

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