2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Boston United

Player Decisions

Retain

Tom Cursons, Kieren Donnelly, Ben Grist, Lenell John-Lewis, Dylan Hill, Connor Teale, Jacob Scott, Alex Lankshear, Louis Chadwick, Jordan Richards, Jordan Cropper

Release

Michael Kelly, Jacob Hazel, Jordy Hiwula, Luca Barrington, Liam McCarron, Zak Mills, Manni Norkett, Marcel Lavinier, Greg Sloggett, Matty Carson

Lose

Frankie Maguire

Loan End

Ken Aboh, Dan Cameron, Oisin Gallagher, Jamie Grimes, Jake Rooney

Retained Squad

New Signings

Harvey Cartwright (Hull City – free)

The Pilgrims’ main area of weakness during the 2025-26 campaign was in the goalkeeping department. Boston United went through a lot of different options throughout the campaign through playing ‘loan roulette’, and so Paul Hurst will try his utmost to bring in an established #1 goalkeeper during the summer. 

Cartwright is a player that already has an appreciation for playing under Paul Hurst having spent time on loan at Grimsby Town when Hurst was in charge of The Mariners. While Paul Hurst was sacked in the October, Cartwright played 32 times that year and Hurst retains knowledge of the player and may well be able to draw upon that in navigating a potential deal for the young City stopper. 

I think that this summer may be the time in which Cartwright has to make the brave decision to leave Hull City. Now 23 years of age. No obvious indicators regarding an opportunity to play in the first-team. If I was advising him, I would be saying that he needs to cut his losses, move on to pastures new, find an opportunity that will allow him to be a #1 and go and play regularly. 

His most recent spell came in the National League with Hartlepool United, albeit ended the season back with The Tigers after returning in October due to injury. That said, the youngster had impressed in the games he played up until that point with The Monkey Hangers and so if The Pilgrims could land him I feel they would be getting a player who has the potential to be a top goalkeeper for the level. He has played in the Football League, and so represents a safe pair of hands for them then entrusting a younger goalkeeper who is potentially in their first loan. 

Cartwright is a good goalkeeper, and despite having not broken through with The Tigers I do maintain that he could probably get another EFL deal – maybe at a League Two club – albeit might not be a first-choice. Joining The Pilgrims with expectation of being that #1 is the opportunity I feel he needs at this point in his career, and so I feel he should join Paul Hurst once more.

Myles Boney (Morecambe – free)

Given that The Pilgrims have had such little luck in the goalkeeping department, I think that they need to carry out a complete overhaul in signing not just one, but two goalkeepers. Especially with Lovett and Jones likely to depart. One player that I believe they should look at is Myles Boney. 

Boney is a goalkeeper that I first watched when he was at South Shields, and he was someone that hugely impressed me. A physically imposing, powerful, agile goalkeeper that is quick at coming off his line and dominates his area quite well. 

He has not had the opportunity to show that since joining Morecambe given Jamal Blackman has been viewed as the more reliable #1, and so I expect that he will be let go at the end of the campaign. Indeed, even if that conversation hasn’t already been had then if I was in Boney’s shoes then I would be leaving Morecambe. 

Having already proved himself as being a top goalkeeper for Step Two, I think that he will be looking to try and get another opportunity in the National League and so joining The Pilgrims provides him with this chance. Providing good competition to a strong goalkeeper in Harvey Cartwright, I think that Boney would represent a sensible option for The Pilgrims.

Ben Crompton (Ross County – fee)

One area in which I think The Pilgrims need to try and focus their efforts in the summer is in strengthening the full-back areas. Connor Teale has done a good job as a makeshift right-back, while Jordan Cropper has had his injury struggles throughout. As such, I think signing an out-and-out right-back should be high on the agenda.

One option that I particularly like having seen him at the level during 2024-25 is youngster Ben Crompton. He enjoyed a successful loan spell with Tamworth on loan from Sunderland, before signing for Scottish side Ross County during the summer. Game time and opportunities have been fairly limited for the youngster, and I wonder whether he might be one that is allowed to depart the club if they get the right offer.

I am not expecting The Pilgrims to be particularly free-spending in the market, yet I am expecting them to be a little more ambitious in providing Paul Hurst with the support financially to assemble a competitive squad. Crompton has reportedly got a year left on his deal with County, but I think that he could be attainable for a fairly reduced fee in order to allow him to go and play his football elsewhere. 

In terms of the type of player that The Pilgrims would be getting in the former Black Cat, Ben Crompton demonstrated during his loan spell with Tamworth that he is an aggressive, defensively-stout, ball-winning right-back that is a good athlete, a strong tackle and has got an incredibly high work-rate.

One of the benefits that The Pilgrims would inherit with Ben Crompton is the appreciation for playing as a centre-back. While the majority of his stuff with Sunderland’s academy, at Tamworth and in the early part of his spell with Ross County has been as a right-back, Crompton has been used as a centre-back on occasion. As such, if United do opt to continue the use of a 3-at-the-back system then Crompton represents a potential candidate on the right of that backline. At the very least, he offers the ability to play him anywhere down that right-hand side in a defensive capacity. 

He is only 22 years of age, and so I think a permanent deal for the youngster would be a good acquisition. One that they can improve. A long-term project. Experience of the league. Hugely coachable. He was out of a good academy with Sunderland, and so has had a good technical ground. There are a lot of requisite ticks in the boxes for me, and I feel that Paul Hurst should make the move for him.

Mal Benning (Shrewsbury Town – free)

Matty Carson went through a period of hitting real form initially with The Pilgrims, but as the season has gone the overriding feeling I am left with is that potentially United may look to add in that area in the summer. If they do, I would look at signing Mal Benning. 

While the majority of his recent career has come plying his trade in the Football League, I think that The Pilgrims could well attract the 32-year-old to the club by way of the fact that Hurst has managed Benning previously when the pair were together at Shrewsbury Town. 

As a player, I think Benning has got a number of the qualities that you would look for in a left-back, and especially if they opt to continue with the use of a system that requires wing-backs. Benning is a fantastic athlete. A powerful runner. Dynamic. The engine to get forward and provide an option on the overlap. Fairly quick. 

He would provide The Pilgrims with an attacking threat from full-back. He utilises his physicality and frame well in getting his team up the pitch, and always looking to make runs from deep. Strong delivery. Technically strong. Aggressive with his running. An accurate crosser of the ball. 

Shrewsbury Town will be shuffling the pack in the off season under new manager Gavin Cowan, and Benning is one that has confirmed as being a casualty. He has been there a number of years now, and so he himself may will likely want a new challenge. Joining a Boston United side under a coach he has played before and who harbour hopes of aiming for the top seven next term may well be an attractive proposition for him. 

Jamie Grimes (Chesterfield – free)

The first player of two on this list that I think The Pilgrims will look to re-sign during the summer is Jamie Grimes. The experienced defender joined United shortly after Hurst’s arrival on loan from Chesterfield, and he has been an ever-present for The Pilgrims since.

They competed against relegation successfully this term, but I think The Pilgrims will be looking to compete at the right end under Paul Hurst next year. Hurst himself has been promoted out of the division with Grimsby Town, and so at the very least he’ll be wanting to be competitive in and around the top-half and with a view on the top seven. 

If The Pilgrims are to scale loftier heights in the National League, I think signing a player of Jamie Grimes’ experience and leadership would be incredibly useful. Prior to Grimes’ signing, The Pilgrims lacked the leadership in their group outside of Zak Mills and Lenell John-Lewis, and so it is no surprise that they’ve picked their league form up after Grimes signing. 

Chesterfield will make changes to their squad during the summer and I expect that Grimes will  be one that is allowed to leave. He is now 35 years of age, and so in terms of ensuring they are able to be competitive to push into League One then you’d imagine Paul Cook will favour a younger squad. He still serves a purpose and offers value for a side in Boston United who want to compete in the top-half of the National League, yet for the top-end of League Two he may fall short of the level required.

He has ‘been there and done it’ at the level before in winning promotion with Chesterfield, and offers vast experience for the level. He is the type of player I could quite easily see coming in as the captain next year for The Pilgrims, and if he did then I feel he’d be a clever piece of business. 

Shane McLoughlin (Cambridge United – free)

One thing that I am a huge advocate for when trying to assemble a side that can go and be competitive at the top end of the league is signing ‘utility’ players. Players that can covers a number of bases. One option that I think they could attain in the National League despite having finished the campaign on the books of a League Two side is Shane McLoughlin. 

McLoughlin is one of the most versatile players that I have come across. Capable of playing at full-back and as a winger on both sides, or as a central midfielder, McLoughlin provides the ability for a manager to be flexible in their system and in having the confidence that he can fill in where required. He may not be a starter or #1 pick in any of the positions, yet adaptability is a hugely important attribute to have. 

I think that Cambridge United could well look to retain his services going into 2026-27, yet if I was in McLoughlin’s shoes then I might look elsewhere to try to find a new opportunity. Especially considering their strength is in their full-back options, and that he hasn’t played as regularly as he would have perhaps liked to have done this term. 

The Pilgrims are likely going to need those two or three players who can elevate the level of the group, change the mindset, give them that added experience and star quality. Signing a player out of the Football League with vast experience and having been in successful sides before and so I feel that he definitely fits the bill. If they could get him, I think it would help them to reach for loftier heights next year. 

Sonny Sharples-Ahmed (Bolton Wanderers – loan)

The second midfielder that I have picked out for The Pilgrims to sign during the summer to provide them with some much-needed competition in the centre of midfield is youngster Sonny Sharples-Ahmed. 

The youngster spent the majority of the campaign out on loan away from Bolton Wanderers, with loan spells at Torquay United and Spennymoor Town. He didn’t feature all that regularly across either spell, but is a player that The Trotters retain a lot of belief in as being a talented player with a very bright future. He was in and around the Trotters first-team during pre-season, tipped to make a bit of a breakthrough and someone that Totters fans have been quite impressed with when they’ve watched him. 

In terms of providing balance to The Pilgrims, Sharples-Ahmed is a naturally left-footed player. A good engine to get about the pitch. Press-resistant. Positive in passing through the lines. The ability to receive off either foot. The Pilgrims’ midfield this term has largely been catered towards energy off the ball and not always the most adventurous in-possession, but having a player of Sharples-Ahmed’s profile as a strong technician would complement nicely with the options they have currently got. 

They have got a worker that is industrious against the ball in Jordan Richards, but I feel they could well benefit from having a more technical, ball-playing midfielder that can dictate the tempo of a game. Receive the ball under pressure. Quick one-two’s. A lovely passing range. The type of technical competencies to recycle the ball efficiently through midfield, and get the team playing. 

I feel that a full-season loan in the National League would do him the world of good. After playing at Step Two this season, I think that the next step for him in his development is to play in the National League and so The Pilgrims could well be a credible destination for him. 

Oisin Gallagher (Lincoln City – free)

The second player on this list that will need no introduction to The Pilgrims is youngster Oisin Gallagher. 

Lincoln City are preparing for life in the Championship, and so I expect Michael Skubala and Jez George to be fairly ruthless in their assessment of the squad in the summer. Gallagher is one of those that has been surplus to requirements until this point, and I don’t envisage a change in that position. As such, I am expecting that he will be allowed to depart on a free transfer. 

If he does, I think that he offers a lot of value to The Pilgrims, not least in terms of his familiarity to the playing squad and in providing continuity from this season. I am expecting there will be a lot of changes during the summer, and so re-signing a player that has been with them the last 12-18 months over a few spells and that is accustomed to the way The Pilgrims work makes a lot of sense. 

One of the other advantages that you get with signing Gallagher is his own versatility. Capable of playing as a holding midfielder or as a centre-back, the youngster provides Paul Hurst with good options. 

With Lincoln City having been promoted, I do feel that this summer may well represent the convenient point for him to move on, find a new permanent home and go and play his football regularly. I have seen him a number of times for The Pilgrims this term and have been quite impressed with the way that he has played, and so there is a body of work there ot suggest that he would be a reliable operator for the second tier. 

Zak Gilsenan (Grimsby Town – free)

The Pilgrims operated with a 3-4-2-1 formation under Paul Hurst, and so one area I feel they can strengthen in the summer is at the tip of mifield in identifying a creative #10. 

One player I feel could be of interest to them is Grimsby Town’s Zak Gilsenan. He is someone that Paul Hurst will have knowledge of given that he has played in the National League this season at Gateshead. He has also spent time at Buxton on loan. 

The youngster has had quite an interesting development duirng his youth days, with spells at Liverpool, Barcelona and more recently Blackburn Rovers, and so has had a good technical grounding. He has played the majority of his stuff off the left-hand side, but I feel the quality of his ball manpulation in tight spaces, quick feet, close control and skill make him quite a nice profile in behind the front. 

He is a good ball-carrier, a strong dribbler, a lovely left foot and is quick to get a shot off. He brings a little more craft with his creativity from open play, and offers a naturally left-sided option. 

He is contracted to Grimsby Town until the end of the campaign, but with The Mariners aiming to get promoted out of League Two then there is a chance he would be having to force his way into a League One squad. Having already been surplus to requirements this season, I think the chances of him having his deal extended are very slim. As such, I expect he will be let go. If so, I think he could be a useful acquisition for The Pilgrims. 

Jack Holmes (Rotherham United – free)

One player on this list that I think would be a bit of a coup given that he has played – albeit sparringly – in League One in 2025-26, yet a player that I feel they would be able to attain on a free transfer is Rotherham United’s Jack Holmes. The Millers will get through a lot of squad change during the summer, and so Holmes could be one that is allowed to depart. 

Boston United don’t traditionally play with out-and-out wingers, but I feel that Holmes could be a good option for playing as one of the mobile #10’s in United’s 3-4-2-1 formation. He can use his agility in creating those in-to-out runs off the shoulder in spinning into the channels, and buzzing around the front with his energy and speed. When he plays as a touchline winger, I feel that he perhaps lack the aerial qualites, aggression and power to really dominate full-backs in duels, and so I believe the best way to get the best out of him is to play him more centrally. 

As a player, Holmes is a diminutive customer with good movement, always on the move, quick and always looks to work space to run into. He is most effective – I feel – when played as a #10 where he is more central in getting shots off. The low centre of gravity to drop a shoulder and drive forward with the ball from deep. That smaller and nippier profile can be so difficult to mark in transition when playing between the lines, and that is where I feel he can get real joy for The Pilgrims. 

The Pilgrims are going to have to sign one or two players within their group that can elevate the level of the group, and while he has definitely ripped up any proverbial trees in League One in a struggling side I do think that he could be a nice option for Paul Hurst to work with. A bit of a project. A young player that they can develop, and perhaps sell on for profit. 

The youngster is 24 years of age, and while he has managed to play EFL football this term I do think that there could well be value in him dropping down to play on a regular basis week-in, week-out. 

Tyrell Sellars-Fleming (Hull City – free)

The final attacking option that I would look at during the summer if I were The Pilgrims is Tyrell Sellars-Fleming. A player that enjoyed a loan spell in the National League during 2025-26 albeit ended the season on loan with Grimsby Town in League Two, I feel that the youngster could be a credible option for The Pilgrims. 

Sellars-Fleming is a big, powerful, athletic striker that has got the mobility and speed in playing off the front. He is definitely not as polished in terms of his decision-making, but he is the type that has got the raw skillsets to fashion himself the chances and so if he can have that little more composure in the final third then he has got the makings of a good #9. 

Having signed for The Mariners earlier this season, the youngster has not really featured as muh as he would like and in truth I felt that the signing at the time was perhaps 12-18 months earlier than he wanted given the stage of development he is at. I think that the right level at which to pitch him is in the National League, and so he could be a candidate for The Pilgrims. 

I definitely feel that the forward has got some really good attributes and represents quite a nice project, and with the benefit of regular minutes in which to develop organically in first-team football I think he can again make that step up into the EFL in the future. For now, I feel that the best thing for him is to sign in the Natonal League and so if I were The Pilgrims then I would be enquiring as to his availability.