2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Aldershot Town

Player Decisions

Retain

Ollie Harfield, Cameron Hargreaves, Brody Peart, Keane Anderson, Ryan Hill, Ashley Akpan, Will Nightingale, Ryheem Sheckleford, Tristan Abrahams

Release

Pat Nash, Coniah Boyce-Clarke, Theo Widdrington, Dejan Tetek, Tyler Frost, Olly Scott, Kwame Thomas, Hady Ghandour, Marcus Dewshurt, Josh Brooking, Luke Jenkins, Matt Penney

Sell / Lose

Josh Barrett, Kiban Rai, Ryan Hill

Loan Out

Tristan Abrahams

Loan End

Callum Stewart, Sam Inwood, Charlie Warren

Retained Squad

New Signings

Joe Duncan (Bristol City – loan)

The one position in which The Shots need to focus their efforts first and foremost during the summer is goalkeeper. With Pat Nash, Marcus Dewhurst and Coniah Boyce-Clark all departing The EBB, The Shots do not have a contracted goalkeeper in the building.

One player that I would look at as a potential target is Joe Duncan. The Bristol City youngsters comes off the back of a strong loan spell with National League South side Farnborough. In an ideal world, Spencer Day would be able to re-sign the young Robin. However, I think Farnborough fans will appreciate the likelihood of that is slim, and instead he will get tested higher.

As a goalkeeper, Duncan has got the attributes that you look for. Aggressive and mobile off his line. Physically powerful and uses that well in dominating his box and coming for crosses. He has got the agility and athleticism to marshal behind a back three where there is typically more responsibility of being a sweeper keeper.

After doing well at Step Two, I feel that joining Aldershot Town as their #1 and testing himself in the National League represents a reasonable next level at which to pitch the youngster.

Richard Chin (Raith Rovers – loan)

The first player on this list is the one that I’m perhaps most excited about given what he showed he was capable of at Farnborough, and that is the youngster Richard Chin.

After impressing with Spencer Day’s side, Chin signed for Scottish side Raith Rovers last summer albeit has not been a regular pick for The Rovers. He is still only 23 years of age and so has got a lot of development left to do, but it wouldn’t surprise me – even with a year left on his deal in Kirkcaldy – that Rovers were open to letting him move on. 

If that is the case, I think that he could be quite a nice open for The Shots to explore. Versatile. Can play at full-back or the base of midfield. Only 23. Out of a good academy in Charlton Athletic. Local roots. All of the physical attributes you’d look for in a Davies side. The technical quality to match. A bit of a project. He has all the makings of a trademark Scott Davies signing. 

The Shots are likely going to have to favour a slightly smaller squad than they have run with in previous seasons in light of the financial position of the club, and so signing a player of Riichard Chin’s versatility is hugely beneficial. He is predominantly a full-back. Suitably quick, mobile and comfortable enough defending wide spaces such that he could be used wide of a back three. He can be played as a #6. Has the energy to be used as a box-to-box midfielder. If you needed a makeshift #10 with an eye for goal and capable of breaking the lines, he has done this previously with Farnborough. He is comfortable playing as a winger. Composite options like Chin are hard to find, and provide value for a club like The Shots. 

He may well require a minimal fee if they are to get him given that he signed for Raith Rovers on an initial 2-year-deal, but I think that he would represent a suitable outlay given the potential return they could get in the long-term and the impact that I feel he can have in the ‘here and now’.

Kiki Oshilaja (Slough Town – free)

With Scott Davies landing The Shots job going into 2026/27 and the record that he has in moving players on to a higher level at Slough Town, there will naturally be question marks over a potential follow on that could follow in returning to Arbour Park for some of his old players. 

One of those that I think is capable – and ready – to make the step up into the National League is 25-year-old Kiki Oshilaja. He stepped up to the sixth tier last summer after signing from Cray Valley Paper Mills, and I could see him making another step up this summer off the back of another impressive individual campaign for the centre-back. 

The Shots have had to rely on a lot of loan signings in the defensive third of the pitch over the past 12-18 months in providing short-term solutions by way of their injury crisis. However, going forward I think that there will likely need to be more of an emphasis on signing permanent options and that can provide greater stability. 

In terms of his profile, I think that Oshilaja has got everything that you look for in a modern-day centre-back. Quick, agile, can defend large spaces, comfortable engaging in duels in the channel, good on the ball, can step into midfield and has got the long-legged, rangy running style to cover ground efficiently. A threat from set-pieces. Technically, a good footballer. A great spring on him and super athletic. 

Given that The Shots are not one of the bigger financial hitters in the league,  think that there has got to be an element of long-term planning with the business they do. Signing players that are young, hungry, with a point to prove, that relish the opportunity, grasp the offer to play for The Shots and with long-term potential that they could cash in on. In this regard, Kiki Oshilaja represents a good fit. 

I anticipate that Davies will want to doing things slightly different and won’t look simply to translate what he did so successfully with The Rebels, but I do expect that Kiki Oshilaja may be one that he wants to take with him to The EBB. Stepping up into the National League represents a logical next step for him in his development, and so I feel this is a no-brainer.

Airidas Golambeckis (West Ham United – loan)

Aldershot Town played against West Ham United Under-21’s in the NL Cup earlier this term, with The Hammers running out comfortable winners on the night. I wonder whether or not one or two of those youngsters may have put themselves in the shop window as to a potential move to The Shots, or at the very least got onto their radar. 

As a player, I think that Golambeckis is a really intriguing profile. He isn’t very big for a centre-back, but is technically really strong. Composed playing out. An incredibly intelligent and diligent defender that prides himself on being able to dispossess defenders through the strength of his positioning and anticipating where the ball is going to drop. 

Crucially, there is a calmness to him which I really like and think could be hugely advantageous to this Shots side. While they have been a good side offensively over the last 18 months, they’ve lacked defensive solidity. Golambeckis has got a lovely temperament in his defending, hugely composed under pressure, a good talker, and the type of defender that doesn’t get flustered. That sure mindedness and composure could be a huge help. 

To date, Golambeckis has not had much exposure to first-team opportunities, and so I think the next logical step in his development is to go and get minutes under his belt. 

If Golambeckis does go out on loan, I think it would be interesting to see the level at which the youngster is pitched as a ‘first loan’. Personally, I feel that going into a Shots side that will be aiming to be competitive at the top end of the National League next year may well be an attractive enough proposition for the youngster to get his first-team fix.

Fin Cousin-Dawson (Yeovil Town – free)

With The Shots reporting a cut to their playing budget going into 2026-27, I think that Scott Davies may have to sacrifice a large squad for the sake of prioritising quality over quantity. 

One thing that definitely will help The Shots in their squad-building efforts is signing players who are versatile to play different positions, as well as an increased focus on signing good athletes that look after themselves and that play a lot of minutes. 

One player that I think they could consider as a prospective signing that would definitely tick those boxes is Yeovil Town defender Finn Cousin-Dawson. Someone that has played as a centre-back, full-back and at the base of midfield with The Glovers. A superb athlete with real power and physicality. I feel that he represents the type of signings that The Shots need to try and make under Coleman in ensuring that they get value for money. 

While there have been a couple of signings added to the group during the season by Josh Coleman, the majority of the side are more technically and attacking biased given the way that Tommy Widdrington wanted his Town side to play. If they are to be competitive at the top end, I think that there is greater scope for them to bring in more of a physical profile – especially defensively – to complement what they retain, and so Cousin-Dawson has the requisite ticks they are looking for.

He is a good size, an incredible work ethic to get about the pitch, physically strong, a powerful runner, and fairly mobile. During his time with Yeovil Town, he has always maintained a  high availability, fairly injury free and the type of reliable professional that is always hugely invaluable to a side but perhaps more so with The Shots.

Given that The Glovers have typically favoured more technical types under Billy Rowley, I think that may be one of the reasons as to why Cousin-Dawson may be let go by them this summer. If he does, I feel he would be a good option for The Shots to look at on a free.

James Vennings (Braintree Town – free)

One player that I think could – and perhaps should – be on The Shots’ radar as a prospective signing this summer is James Vennings. A player that will need little in the way of an introduction having been with The Shots before, I feel now might be a convenient time to re-sign the more Addick. 

The Shots have got a physical powerhouse in the form of Cameron Hargreaves as a box-to-box type, yet I feel they could do with that slightly more technical, press-resistant, goal-scoring type that can dictate the tempo of a game and in progressing the ball through the thirds.

With Braintree Town having been relegated to the National League South, I am expecting that Vennings may well be one of those who ends up being moved on during the summer in light of better offers elsewhere. The attraction of offering Vennings the commodity of National League football and signing a player out of a club who themselves are financial minnows may well make this deal a starter from the off. 

In terms of his profile, Vennings is a technical operator with a good range of passing, creative, strong tactical appreciation and is adept playing at speed. Progressive in playing forward, the agility and close control to get on the half-turn and pick up clever pockets in the half-spaces in which to face the goal. He isn’t the most physically developed in terms of having the frame and power to be combative, but I think he complements Cameron Hargreaves quite nicely.

There is no doubt that Vennings would return to The EBB a better and more rounded midfielder than when he was last with The Shots, and one that has the benefit of extra experience at the level under his belt. He has had a good technical grounding having come through with Charlton Athletic, and all things considered I would seriously consider re-signing the 25-year-old.

Emmanuel Osadebe (Barnet – free)

Another midfielder that I would be looking at if I were The Shots is Barnet’s Emmanuel Osadebe. A target that I feel Town could realistically attract off the back of an underwhelming 2025-26 is Emmanuel Osadebe. 

I think that The Shots do with adding a more physical presence in the centre of the park to complement what they have got at their disposal currently. Cameron Hargreaves is strong physically and got an unbelievable engine to get about the pitch – hence why I refer to him as Mr Duracell – but I feel there is definitely value in having a more robust option in the middle of the park. Perhaps slightly less polished technically, but a size and a presence that is strong in the tackle and has got the ball-wining qualities to turnover the play.

Osadebe signed for Barnet last summer from Forest Green Rovers, and so having struggled to hold down a place in League Two with Rovers then it wouldn’t surprise me if he drops back into the National League for his next move. If so, I think he could represent a good option for The Shots. 

He may not be the most prolific passer of the ball and technically is perhaps the least of those identified in this piece, yet I feel there is still a lot of value in adding a player of this profile to the group. The Shots have been too easy to play against at times, and so adding a player that is physically strong and imposing with his large frame, combative in his play, a tough tackler, with a good engine, a willing runner and someone who relishes doing the ‘dirty work’ then that could complement the more technical types quite nicely. 

He has got the engine to be used as a box-to-box type as a runner, and in what I am expecting to be quite a transitional brand of football under Scott Davies as we have seen of him at Slough Town then I feel someone of Osadebe’s skillsets could be welcomed. He is definitely a little rough round the edges, but he has experience of the league and playing higher, and may represent good business on a free transfer.

Dion Pereira (Crawley Town – free)

The first wide player that I would look at signing in the summer is Dion Pereira. He finished the season on the books of Crawley Town, but I envisage that he may be one that is allowed to leave the club during the summer as part of their overhaul under Colin Kazim-Richards.

The youngster is formerly of the Luton Town academy, and is no stranger to the National League having excelled on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge during the 2024-25. 10 goals in 35 league games.  That spell was sufficient enough to earn him an opportunity to join Crawley Town in League Two. 

In terms of his profile, Dion Pereira is a diminutive, tricky, skilful, quick-footed winger with dynamic movement. Agile, close control and technical quality to weave his way in and out of defenders. The Shots have developed a reputation for being one of the best attacking sides at the level and a side who like to play on the front-foot, and a player of Pereira’s profile would represent a good stylistic fit for that. 

When Scott Davies was at Slough Town, he didn’t really operate a system with your traditional wingers given that they used a 3-5-2 with wing-backs that operated as forwards in possession. One of the changes that I think that we will see in joining The Shots is a change towards a more conventional 4-2-3-1, and signing out-and-out wingers so that they can play an attacking brand. 

Pereira is 27 years of age, albeit has perhaps lost his way the last year. He has not been a regular starter for The Red Devils in League Two, and with Town likely to shuffle the pack and make some changes during the summer then Pereira might be one that is allowed to move on. If that is the case, I think that he could be a good option for The Shots.

Liam Dulson (Maidenhead United – free)

One player that I have watched in the National League South during 2025-26 and have been hugely impressed with is Liam Dulson. In my opinion, he is right up there with one of the best forward players I’ve had the joy of watching in the league, and I think he could quite easily step up. 

I am sure that The Magpies would like to keep him going into 2026-27, but I feel that they’re a club who actively promote players progressing their careers and won’t stand in their way pursuing opportunities elsewhere. Liam Dulson represents such an exciting profile for a forward, and I feel that he would relish working with an attacking manager such as Scott Davies. 

One of the benefits that you get with Liam Dulson is his versatility, comfortable be it off the left-hand side as a winger and cutting inside, or playing centrally through the middle as a physical reference as more of your traditional #9. The way in which Scott Davies set up his Slough Town side is that they were particularly direct in their build-up in the first pass, and so having a player with the size, stature and physicality to cope with that is key. 

As a player, I like a lot of what I see in Dulson. Physically strong, a good size, powerful frame in holding off players and the engine and mobility to get about the pitch. He is a good athlete, and someone that likes to be direct in going for the ‘jugular’ and running at players. Particularly strong as a ball-carrier on the turn, and the speed to attack space in behind. 

Dulson has had his opportunities to play at a higher level before in joining Cheltenham Town and it perhaps didn’t work out on that occasion, but is the exact type of profile who I think Davies would relish working with. Lots of potential. One that they can develop, and help go back up the pyramid again in the future. Another to sell on for profit. There is plenty of upside with the deal, and if The Magpies can get him it would – I feel – be a coup.

Josh Kelly (AFC Wimbledon – free)

Forward Josh Kelly finished the 2025-26 campaign on loan with The Shots’ rivals Woking. While for some there may well be an expectation that The Cards will try to re-sign him in the summer, I feel that a sensible suggestion would actually be to go elsewhere. 

I expect that The Cards will – or at least try to – sign Olly Sanderson off the back of his successful loan at The Laithwaite. If that is the case, Kelly will straight away be playing second fiddle to one of the best strikers in the division. Personally, I think that he should entertain the opportunity to go and play his football in a different environment and so The Shots could be an option. 

The Shots finished the campaign with Kwame Thomas and Hady Ghandour as their striking options. Thomas is a traditional #9 in the sense of providing a physical presence at the top end of the pitch. A platform. Someone who is dominant in the air, and perhaps less polished, yet equally effective. Ghandour has an incredible work ethic. Your ‘chase a crisp packet in the wind’ type player that looks to chase lost causes. However, I feel they could do with that smaller and nippier profile of #9.

I think that Kelly ticks those boxes. Is a quick and dynamic forward that looks to play on the last line and make runs in beyond. Intelligent movement. A good finisher. Always on the move and pressing defenders. Agile. Strong acceleration off the mark and the low centre of gravity to quickly change direction. Most effective of a more physical reference.   

With AFC Wimbledon already well-stocked in the forward department and Kelly seemingly already surplus to requirements, I anticipate that Josh Kelly will be allowed to depart the club on a free transfer in the summer. If that is indeed the case, I feel that he would represent a clever piece of business for The Shots in terms of improving their forward options beyond what they have had for much of 2025-26.

Ruben Shakpoke (Slough Town – free)

The final player that I feel Aldershot Town should sign during the summer is Ruben Shakpoke. The second of two players on this list that finished the 2025-26 campaign with Slough Town. While it may not win many awards for ingenuity, I expect this deal could happen.

Shakpoke has a lot to thank Scott Davies for in turning his career around, taking a chance on him and getting him playing the best football. As such, it wouldn’t surprise me if Shakpoke has already reached out to his former manager and enquired to the possibility of arriving at The EBB.

The way that The Rebels played under Scott Davies – and the basis of what he is likely to do in charge of The Shots – is quick, powerful, direct, aggressive, front-footed football. They aren’t merely a long ball team as I have seen them be labelled, but Davies wants his teams to get the ball forward early into the front men and play. Having a physical reference like Shakpoke is hugely important.

Slough Town’s success was built on ‘chaos’, and Shakpoke represents a good fit for that. He is quite unpolished in his technical ability. A little unorthodox. A strong and wiry frame. Very awkward to play against. A diligent player with a strong work-ethic. A good presser. Selfless. Overly physical and combative.

Scott Davies likes to set his sides up to play quickly in transition. Where they don’t have the best technicians, I would say his style is very disruptive into wanting to dislodge the opposition. Make it difficult for them to play. Struggle physically. While he might not be the cleanest ball-striker as an out-and-out #9, one thing he will give you is that platform.

I have seen good progression in Shakpoke’s game in the last 12-18 months, and Davies has to take a lot of credit for the way that he has platformed the youngster.  With Kwame Thomas and Hady Ghandour being released, The Shots miss that presence at the end of the pitch and so I think Shakpoke represents a really nice profile. For a ‘big man’, he is surprisingly quick and mobile, and has got a lovely unpredictability which is so hard to defend against.

The forward is still only 21 years of age, and has had a good grounding during  his days with Aston Villa. This is the type of player that I expect The Shots will look to sign in being young, hungry, with a point to prove and eager to grasp the opportunity. The Stokes’ of this world. A burning desire and application to ‘make it’. Getting it done would be fairly straight-forward, and I think this should be top of the list.