Northampton Town boss Aidy Boothroyd has only seen his side play one game, but is already stamping his authority on the team.

Boothroyd this week released three players – Ashley Westwood, Chris Arthur and Bas Savage all told they had no future with the Cobblers.

Westwood, 35, was contracted until the end of December, while 21-year-old Arthur, who played eight games, would have been a free agent in January.

Striker Savage, 29, arrived in August and signed a five-month deal.

“I made this decision now as I believe in being 100 per cent honest with people,” Boothroyd said.

“They can spend Christmas with their families, and they are free agents for the January transfer window.”

They are not likely to be the only departures from Sixfields.

Even with the trio leaving, there are still 27 players in the first-team squad, and he wants to trim this back much further.

Boothroyd has also given a vote of confidence to striker Jake Robinson, who has not scored for 32 games.

The forward has not found the net since March after being brought in by former boss Gary Johnson.

The 25-year-old scored goals at both Shrewsbury and Torquay previously and a lot was expected of him.

Robinson scored 16 goals last term, but his last strike was for Torquay at Macclesfield on March 19, and he has failed to hit the back of the net in 32 appearances since.

Robinson was made available for transfer in Johnson’s final days at the club, but Boothroyd has seen enough to suggest the player’s barren spell won’t go on too much longer.

“I think Jake is a terrific player and if he thought he was as good as I think he is then he wouldn’t be at this football club,” Boothroyd said.

“He’s lively, he’s got a goal in him, he’s great coming off the left and he can play up front in a two.

“I just see really good things coming from him. I can’t point the finger and say he didn’t give his all on Saturday and that’s all I can ask for.”

Boothroyd started his Northampton tenure with a 1-1 home draw against Crewe last week.

And he was impressed with what he saw from his side.

“I thought we were terrific in the first half,” he said.

“We stuck to the game plan and it was important that we stopped the rot and we didn't get beat.”