Chairman David Cardoza believes Northampton will have a 'top-six budget' next season - if the Cobblers stay up.
Aidy Boothroyd's men are on course to preserve their Football League status, being eight points clear of the relegation zone with three matches remaining.
Cardoza feels a smaller squad with the emphasis on quality, coupled with additions to the backroom staff, could see the club challenging towards the opposite end of the table next season.
"Because of the size of the club we are, we're always top 10 at worst when it comes to budget," Cardoza told BBC Northampton. "We will lose Swindon and one or two of the others so then we will be in the top four, five or six. With Aidy as manager, it will be enough to give us an exciting season at worst.
"This season has been pretty horrific financially. We have paid the bills but we need to be self-sustaining. The budget will come down a little bit on players, but we have had 30-odd players. Aidy wants 19 so it will be a better quality of player.
"We have just had a sports scientist join us and we are looking at increasing the staff around the team rather than the amount of players that we have got. That's the way Aidy wants to do it. We are positive for next season."
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