As events unfolded elsewhere (Carlisle and Brighton, who were also both threatened with the drop) and on the pitch in front of us the possible became inevitable and then became a stark reality.
So the Cobblers faithful decided to answer the chants from "play off bound" Leeds fans of "Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be, were going to Wembley" with their own version of "Were going to Shrewsbury" and not just Shrewsbury, you can also add Dagenham and Redbridge and Burton Albion and Morecombe and Accrington Stanley to the list of clubs we will be visiting in League 2 next season. A long way away from the expectation of visits to and from Southampton, Charlton, Norwich and possibly Leeds again?
And so it was a most disastrous season ended in relegation and a 3-0 drubbing by Leeds United in front of a crowd 34,000 where as next season we will probably start the season away at Bury in front of a crowd of 3400. That's the game, that's how unfair and cruel life as a football supporter can be.
And so it is today that despite the inevitable comments from some saying "It's only a game" I find myself wrapped deep in depression, unable to watch any football on the TV, unwilling to go out and face a world that seems not to care about the plight of us obsessive football fans. My therapy is to write this blog entry and get off my chest all of my feelings and forebodings.
First of all though well done to Brighton and Carlisle, you both really had to win to have any chance of surviving, and then also look to others (us) to foul up. We did, you didn't. You did the job asked of you, we didn't. You deserve to stay in League one, we don't.
Secondly, in speaking to just a few similarly afflicted souls such as myself I detect a stirring of "no one likes us we don't care" about our mood.
In a season when the Council couldn't be arsed to get behind us when it really mattered most, and when you felt that some in the town (thankfully not too many) almost seemed to take some satisfaction at our ongoing plight, the fan base seem to have formed an opinion of robust indifference, saying "think what you like, do your worst, we are here to stay and we are not going away and we are never, ever, giving up on our dream.
Last Thursday we met with the Council about our much revised plans, it was a good meeting, at the same time the Saints plans have really thrown a hand grenade into the planning arena just as I am sure Keith Barwell expected them to. We can only but wait for the views of the politicians at the Guildhall who I have to say have so far been less quick off the mark with their opinions than they were when the football club announced their own plans. Time will tell.
But all this means that we will be having the debate against a background I hope of acceptance from some that we won't give up on our ambition off the pitch any more than we will relinquish our hope of future success on it.
A creature is at it's most dangerous when backed into a corner and when it is feeling under threat from all those around. So beware, the pain of relegation today stings, our wounds are open, and some will be quick to rub salt into them, but we will rise again.
Now what price will Ladbrookes give me on us being champions of League Two next season?
