Alexandre Pato part of consortium buying into Northampton Town

Alexandre Pato is coming to Northampton Town.

The former Brazil, AC Milan and Chelsea striker is part of a consortium that has agreed to buy a stake in the League Two club, the fourth tier of English football. Northampton confirmed the agreement on 18 September after approval from the English Football League and the Independent Football Regulator, BBC.

The buyers are Sports Alpha Capital, known as SAC. Founding partner Joao Xavier is fronting the deal, with Pato and London-based investment firm Gemcorp Capital named among its investors. The size of the stake has not been disclosed, but the club expects to confirm completion next week.

Pato will be a familiar name to many fans. He scored 63 goals in 150 games for AC Milan and won Italy's Serie A title with them in 2010-11. He later had a brief spell in England with Chelsea, GOAL.

Northampton need a lift. They finished bottom of League One last season and were relegated to League Two. In April the club announced a pre-tax loss of just under £3 million.

Chairman Kelvin Thomas said the proposed investment would leave the club debt-free, BBC. That is a simple promise. No loans hanging over the club. A clean sheet off the pitch.

There has already been change in the dugout. Chris Hogg was appointed manager in May to lead the rebuild. He now looks set to work under new part-owners as he tries to push the Cobblers back up the table.

SAC has looked at English football before. Earlier this year it held initial talks about taking over Colchester United before pulling out after those early conversations.

For Northampton supporters, this is a moment of hope. Relegation hurts. A fresh start, with no debt and a famous name in the boardroom, gives Sixfields something to feel together again.