The firm said it has been forced to walk off the project twice leaving the stand unfinished because of the ongoing payment row.

Buckingham Group first stopped work in late 2014 after failing to be paid in full by the club’s original main contractor 1st Land.

In March 2015, a new agreement was reached with Northampton Town chairman David Cardoza to restart work on the East Stand under a new developer County Developments (Northampton).

Work began in April 2015 following further agreements concerning the payment of the outstanding money.

But Buckingham downed tools back in June claiming the full certified sums had still not been released.

A hearing is now scheduled for Thursday after Buckingham submitted a winding up petition against County Developments (Northampton).

In a statement about the the on-going dispute Buckingham said it signed a JCT contract with 1st Land in May 2014 to build an amended design for the replacement East Stand at a contract value of £4 .151m.

Buckingham said: “1st Land Ltd made three payments under their contract with Buckingham between 1 May and 14 July 2014. These payments totalled £441,917 net of VAT. These are the only monies Buckingham have ever received for works carried out and certified to date on the East Stand.

“When we pulled off site in September 2014 we were owed a total of £1.852m by 1st Land Ltd. We pursued Mr Grossman for payment up until the beginning of December 2014 when we commenced administration proceedings against 1st Land Ltd.

“At the end of March 2015, Buckingham reached agreement with David Cardoza to return to Sixfields to recommence work on the East Stand.

“This agreement was based on repeated assurances received from Mr Cardoza that there were adequate, additional loan monies which remained available to draw down from the Borough Council to fund the completion of the East Stand works.

“We signed a new JCT Contract to complete the East Stand with County Developments (Northampton) and returned to site to resume work on 13 April 2015. Under this new contract CDNL also accepted liability to pay Buckingham the £1.852m debt owed by 1st Land Ltd, no later than 31 December 2015.

“The first payment to Buckingham under the new contract with CDNL was due on 8 May 2015 but was not forthcoming. On 20 May 2015 we issued a formal notice to suspend works on the grounds of non-payment.”

The firm added: “We wish to make it clear that the reason why the East Stand construction works ceased completely in early June 2015 was entirely due to non-payment of monies due and certified. The cessation of works had nothing whatsoever to do with any purported proposals from any prospective investor with plans to re-design the stadium. We stopped work because we were not paid.

“For the avoidance of doubt we have not been paid a penny by CDNL. CDNL are liable to Buckingham for £2.99m for works completed and certified on the East Stand, and for the debt that CDNL took over from 1st Land Ltd, which is why we are pursuing a winding up order against CDNL in the High Court this Thursday 22nd October 2015.”