Chris Lines' Northampton Town will have the support of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal as they launch their promotion bid against Cheltenham Town next Thursday.
Having finished seventh, with the League Two regular season curtailed and decided via unweighted points per game, the Cobblers are potentially three matches away from League One, which would ensure Lines can make an emotional return to the Mem for 2020/21.
Former LA Lakers, Orlando Magic and Boston Celtic centre O'Neal, who won four NBA championships in a decorated career, is a friend and business association of Cobblers chairman Kelvin Thomas and a cardboard cutout of the 7ft 1ins American, wearing a Cobblers scarf, will be in the stands at Sixfields.
O'Neal previously recorded a message of support for Northampton during their promotion in 2016, when they secured a place in League One.
"Shaq, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in basketball history, has thrown his support behind Northampton Town and the Cobbler in the Crowd scheme and his cut out will be included in the crowd as the Cobblers take on the Robins," a club statement read.
"A picture of Shaq wearing his Cobblers scarf has been produced on a cut out and will be installed at the PTS Academy Stadium ahead of the game."
Lines left Rovers last summer after his second spell at his boyhood club and has made 31 league appearances for Northampton this season, scoring twice with two assists.
The match-up against Cheltenham will also see the 34-year-old go head-to-head with Gas striker and former teammate Tom Nichols, who's on loan at Whaddon Road for the duration of the current season,
