2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Altrincham

Player Decisions

Retain

Sam Reed, Jake Cooper, Tylor Golden, Lewis Banks, Tom Crawford, Otis Khan, Matt Kosylo, Lucas Weaver, Anthony Forde, Olly Crankshaw, Isaac Marriott

Release

Charlie Kirk, Ethan Ross, Kian Breckin, Billy Sass-Davies, Sam Barnes, Lewis Baines

Lose

Kahral Reddin

Loan End

Josh Grant, Declan Howe, Liam Humbles, Luke Hutchinson, Dan Sassi

Retained Squad

New Signings

Nicholas Michalski (Blackburn Rovers – loan)

The Robins had real joy in the use of the loan market in 2025-26 in signing youngster Luke Hutchinson, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Neil Gibson again turn to that avenue to find a new #1. One player that I would look at is Nicholas Michalski. 

The extent of Michalski’s first-team experience has been a loan in the National League North with Bamber Bridge and City of Liverpool, and so signing for The Robins would be a step up in terms of the level at which he is playing. He comes from Manchester, and so the opportunity to join The Robins represents a sensible geographical opportunity for the youngster. 

He has been in and around the first-team with Rovers since the age of 16, and got his first-team debut in the cup against Bradford City. In terms of being a regular starter – the development that he needs at his age – I think that he is still likely to get that by going and finding it at a lower level. Regular minutes. Being a #1. 

With Blackburn Rovers staying in the Championship, I think that there are slim chances of getting first-team opportunities and so if he wants to play regularly then he is likely going to have to depart, be it on loan or permanently. He is highly-rated within Rovers circles and has been capped by England at youth level, and so the likelihood is they will want to keep him. 

The youngster is 19 years of age, and I think that a loan would do his development the world of good. If The Robins can get him, I feel that they would be getting a goalkeeper just as good as what they are losing in Luke Hutchinson. A hugely talented player, and I believe he would be a good #1 for the level.

Alex Bannon (Burton Albion – free)

With Lewis Baines likely to depart the club at the end of the season, one area in which I feel that The Robins are likely to have to strengthen during the summer is a new centre-back. One option that I would look at is Alex Bannon. 

Bannon certainly isn’t a household name for viewers of the National League given that the majority of his game time has come either North of the border in Scotland or fleetingly with Burton Albion since joining The Brewers in 2024. He has seemingly been surplus to Gary Bowyer’s requirements in the first-team, and so while he is under contract until 2028 I wouldn’t be surprised to see him depart. 

I think that the likelihood is that The Brewers will be looking to move him on during the summer – be it for a small fee or a mutual termination – and for the sake of Bannon’s own development I feel that is the sensible choice. He is only 22 years of age, but I think that he could be a good project for The Robins. He will likely want to remain in the Football League after getting that move in 2024, but in terms of playing regular minutes then dropping into the National League might be the most sensible option. 

In terms of his profile, Bannon is a player that is strong with the ball at his feet and in playing out. 

The Robins have had a fair few injuries in the defensive third of the pitch this term, and so signing a player of Alex Bannon’s versatility is useful. Predominantly a centre-back, he can play as a full-back and at the base of midfield, and so he offers Neil Gibson a lot of different options. Having players like that in the squad can always be so important to ensure that they are durable enough to withstand the physicality and intensity of the National League. 

The Brewers may wish to let him leave on loan given that he is still under contract, and retain an interest in the event that he were to sign for The Robins and be a revelation. Personally, I think that he would be a good signing.

Leke Drake (Manchester City – loan)

I feel that The Robins could do with adding a younger centre-back to complement the group. One option that I think that they could look at as a prospective signing and who is highly-rated within Manchester City circles is 18-year-old Leke Drake. 

The young centre-back provides The Robins with the type of profile that I feel complements their existing defensive options quite nicely. Agile, athletic, capable of defending in a high line and the mobility to defend large spaces. Comfortable on the ball in playing out. A good ‘footballer’ over and above being a box defender, and the type of player that I feel would dovetail quite nicely with a more industrious centre-back. 

The Manchester City academy product is such a nice profile for a modern-day defender. Physically imposing. Quick. Strong. A powerful athlete. He is someone that will look to step out into midfield and progress the ball from deep, and he gives The Robins a defensive profile that they have missed in 2025-26. 

I think that the youngster needs to go and play next season to continue his development, and I feel the National League represents a sensible level at which to pitch him.

Liam Humbles (Rochdale – free)

One player that Altrincham had on their books in 2025-26 and will likely want to re-sign in the summer is Liam Humbles. On loan from Rochdale, Humbles has been impressive with The Robins and someone that Neil Gibson clearly trusts. 

The former Gateshead man has been a real success on loan with Altrincham in 2025-26, playing virtually every game at the base of midfield for The Robins. He is someone that likes to sit at the base of midfield, dictate the tempo of his game with his technical ability. Neat one-two’s. Recycling possession. Clever use of the ball. Hugely press resistant. 

He only re-signed for Altrincham in January, but since Neil Gibson has brought him into the club he has been an ever-present of their midfield. The midfielder is 22 years of age, and so represents a bit of a project for The Robins. 

Rochdale have got a number of midfield options at their disposal, and Humbles has already been surplus to requirements in 2025-26. With Humbles likely to be released by Jim McNulty going into 2026-27, I think that a return to Altrincham makes a lot of sense for both parties. I feel re-signing is a formality, and I expect to see Humbles in an Altrincham shirt next term.

Florent Hoti (FC Halifax Town – free)

If The Robins are going to push for the top seven in 2026-27, I think that they could do with adding a midfielder that can provide that little bit more creativity and craft in playing through the lines. One option that I feel they could look at is Florent Hoti. 

Hoti is out of contract with fellow National League side FC Halifax Town, and I anticipate that he may well depart the club this summer. If that is the case, he certainly won’t be short of offers – given his quality for The Shaymen – but he is the type of player that I feel could be an asset to a top-end, National League side. 

In terms of his profile, Hoti is a left-footed, technical ball-player that has got a good range of passing, lovely vision, a delicate weight of pass and someone that is always looking to play forward and break the lines. He isn’t the most athletic, but in terms of getting on the ball and creating, he has shown at this level that he can be a good player. An intelligent operator. Controls the tempo of a game. 

He has had his share of injuries and so that is perhaps one of the reasons as to why I feel that he may stay in the National League if he departs The Shay rather than getting an EFL opportunity, but I feel that going and playing regularly again over the course of a season at this level might be useful in getting him back up to speed. 

The midfielder is 25-year-old and is originally from Manchester, and so the prospect of signing for The Robins may well be an attractive proposition for him.

Josh Williams (Tranmere Rovers – loan)

One player that may well be available at the end of the season and – if he does – will no doubt be someone that Neil Gibson looks at as a prospective signing is Josh Williams. On the books of Tranmere Rovers, the 21-year-old is a player that Neil Gibson knows well. 

Williams earned a reputation for being one of the best up-and-coming young players in the Welsh Premier League at Connah’s Quay Nomads, playing under now Altrincham boss Neil Gibson. 

The youngster has had a tough time of it with Tranmere Rovers, having had time out through injury and having been very much on the fringes for Rovers, and so I think that he needs to try and find himself an opportunity to go out and get back playing regularly and discovering that love for the game again. As a prospective loan destination, I feel signing for a manager that he has played his football under could be a sensible option during the summer. 

At his best, Williams is a goal-scoring, creative #10 that looks to get on the ball, get on the turn and get shots off. The Robins have missed that midfielder that can contribute in the scoring and look to break from midfield, but Williams has that forward-thinking nature to his play. The Robins have got a hard-working midfield, but adding that profile that is capable of being a little more adventurous in their attacking play would be incredibly useful.

He is still contracted to Tranmere Rovers until the end of 2026-27, but if he needs a loan – even till January – in which to get back playing then I think Altrincham could be a good opportunity for him.

Aodhan Doherty (Blackburn Rovers – loan)

The Robins have got some good wide options already on the books in the form of Matt Kosylo, Otis Khan and Olly Crankshaw. I feel that they could do with adding another winger to the ranks, and so one option that I would look at – and a second from Blackburn Rovers on this list – is youngster Aodhan Doherty. 

The youngster is a 19-year-old left winger that signed for Blackburn Rovers from Irish side Linfield, and has – to date – had a couple of opportunities to get some first-team minutes. Albeit, largely limited to coming off the bench with a fleeting appearance. Regardless, it is clear that the young Irishman is highly-rated circles and could represent a bit of a coup for The Robins. 

He is a quick-footed, skilful, high-energy wide player. He is left-footed, and so can play off the left in providing those out-to-in crosses, or off the right and in cutting inside to work shooting opportunities. He wants to come inside the pitch, drive the ball to goal and get shots off. He has got a nice energy to press from the front, quick and has clever movement. 

I think that signing for The Robins would be a useful opportunity for him to get out in first-team football, play minutes and continue his development. If Altrincham can get him, I feel that he would be a good acquisition to give them something a little bit different in the wide areas to what they have got currently.

Alex Reid (Hartlepool United – free)

The final option that I think The Robins could look at signing is Hartlepool United’s Alex Reid. The jury is out over whether he will be re-signed by The Monkey Hangers, but in the event that he isn’t I think that he could represent a good option for Neil Gibson’s men. 

One thing that Reid would give this Robins side is that bit of experience and nous of the league, and having ‘been there and done it’ in his career. They have played Jimmy Knowles through the middle for much of the campaign and he is a young player learning his trade, whereas Alex Reid represents the antithesis of that in having had an extensive career at the level. That bit of experience in the fifth tier could be incredibly useful. 

As a player, Reid is a typical ‘box #9’ given his height, physicality and aerial qualities in leading the line, bringing others into play, and having that killer edge in his game to get on the end of delivery into the area. 

Indeed, Reid is a player that needs little introduction to Robins boss Neil Gibson having played under him at Wealstone. While Gibson was in charge, Reid proved once again why he is one of the best finishers in the National League with a strong return for The Stones, and I wonder whether or not Reid could be persuaded to re-sign for his former manager again and continue where he left off. 

One thing is for sure, Gibson managed to get the best out of Reid. Keeping him between the posts. Get good delivery into him. I feel that he would provide that extra bit of intelligence in the final third, and if they can get him then I believe that he would be a good addition for The Robins.