2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Dagenham and Redbridge

Player Decisions

Retain

Paul Kalambayi, Andy Carroll, Stan Leech, Reggie Young, Christian Maghoma, Dermi Lusala, Sam Graham, Conor Lawless, Joseph Ajose

Release

Aramide Oteh, Rashawn Scott, Trent Rendall, Rafiq Khaleel, Donovan Wilson, Andre Burley, Nortei Nortey, Dylan Stephenson, Christian N’Guessan, George Marsh, Timothee Dieng, Kayden Barrack, Corey Panter

Lose

Joe Haigh

Loan End

Harvey Broad, Will Sweet, Kien Connolly, Matthew Hayden

Retained Squad

New Signings

Michael Johnson (Hemel Hempstead Town – free)

The first player on this list is Michael Johnson. Despite the fact that The Daggers have got Sam Howes, but I feel that Lee Allinson will look to provide him with proper competition and potentially a new #1. If he does, I think that Michael Johnson will be top of their agenda to make the move. 

With Lee Allinson joining from Hemel Hempstead Town, it is only natural that there will be a possibility that he re-signs players that he has worked with before. Indeed, Johnson is a player that he has worked with at Hemel Hempstead Town. Lee’s dad Ian – who was assistant to him with The Tudors – managed Johnson at St Albans City, and so they have already got a strong relationship with him. 

Personally, I rate Sam Howes as a goalkeeper, albeit I do appreciate that there have been a couple of times within 2025-26 in which he has been at fault for – or could have done better – in games, and that if The Daggers are to progress then they perhaps could do with adding a new #1. I certainly wouldn’t be letting Howes go, but I feel that Johnson would be a good addition. 

Johnson is one of the best goalkeepers in the National League South not just this season, but for a number of years, and he has been brilliant for The Tudors since signing for them. In an experienced goalkeeping department that Lee Allinson put together at the start of 2025-26, Michael Johnson was able to firmly claim the #1 jersey and held down that position to full effect. 

So often when a manager goes into a new club, you will see them change the goalkeeper as it allows them to provide a slight difference and defensive foundation on which to build. Johnson is very much ‘Allinson’s man’ and so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him rock up at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.

Idrees Namisi (Brightlingsea Regent – free)

Given that a lot of The Daggers’ business during the summer in signing from higher in the pyramid has perhaps not worked out as effectively as they would, I would actively encourage that they look to sign from lower in the pyramid. Unearth a few gems they can polish. One player that is interesting sides higher up and who would be seen as a coup for The Daggers is young right-back Idrees Namisi. 

He is very much your modern-day full-back. Athletic. Quick. Covers the ground really well. Attack-minded. Always wanting to get up in support of the play. The engine to get up on the overlap and attack space. Quick change of direction in the carry. A powerful runner. If deployed in the right way, I think there is a top right-back. 

One thing that The Daggers have lacked this term is attacking output from the full-backs. Namisi is the type of profile that they want if they are going to play on the front-foot, take the game to the opposition and play an attacking brand. Suited to play as a wing-back getting ‘up and down’, or as a conventional right-back in a four. He is physically strong, a good athlete, and for someone of his youth has developed a real maturity by way of minutes at an early age in men’s football. 

The youngster is the subject of interest from a number of clubs far superior to The Daggers, but in terms of getting an opportunity to play regularly in a first-team environment then I think signing for Dagenham and Redbridge may well be a sensible next step in his development. Rather than sit and stagnate in an academy at the top level, he needs to play and continue to hone his craft. He’d be afforded such luxury with The Daggers.

Darion Dowrich (Hemel Hempstead Town – free)

One area that I think The Daggers could do with strengthening during the summer is at left-back. Lee Allinson wants a strong, powerful, attacking side that are strong in transition, and so adding a left-back that has got the athleticism and energy to play that way is key. 

The player that I would look at is Darion Dowrich. The second player on this list that finished the 2025-26 campaign with The Tudors, and the 22-year-old is one young player that I have been particularly impressed with in the National League South this term. He has been one of the best players for The Tudors this term, and one that I half expected to move into full-time football this summer in any event. With Allinson moving to Dagenham and Redbridge, I expect that may now happen. 

As a profile, Dowrich is a quick and powerful runner. An incredible athlete. Full of energy in pressing aggressively against his winger. He is a good ball-carrier, and he uses his slight frame in progressing the ball through the thirds, making runs into the final third on the overlap and being a transitional threat. Lee Allinson has set his Hemel Hempstead Town side up to be strong in transition and going from defensive-to-attack really quickly, and so having an athlete of Dowrich’s ability is definitely a good stylistic fit for that. 

The youngster is the type of profile that I think is very much in the mould you want from a ‘modern-day full-back’, and so signing Dorwich represents as much a project for The Daggers as it is someone that they can develop and move onto profit for a more sustainable model. He is a superb talent, and so if The Daggers can lure him into full-time football then this is one I would be all over.

George Fowler (Maidstone United – free)

One thing that The Daggers have lacked in 2025-26 is leadership. For much of the campaign, they’ve been too easy to play against. Naive in key moments. Lacking the poise and mindset to grind out results under the cosh. If they’re to be successful, they’ve got to strengthen the leadership group of their squad. 

With George Elokobi moving on from Maidstone United at the end of the campaign, the club itself entering a new chapter and The Stones likely again one of the lower financial hitters, defender George Fowler may well be one player that might be of interest from elsewhere for a move. The Stones have consistently lost key players to clubs more financially well-off than them, and given the new investment into The Daggers then they may be in a position to offer a better financial package to Fowler than he’d get with The Stones. 

Fowler isn’t the quickest, but he is a reliable player. A strong box defender. A committed, hard-working, selfless team player that gets stuck in. A vocal leader at the back in organising the side. A good professional. He has been integral to the success that Maidstone United have had over the years as someone that is willing to put his head in where it hurts. 

If The Daggers are to have success, recruiting a core of players who are in their late 20’s or early 30’s that have knowledge of the league, been there and done it, and knows how to be competitive at the top end. Fowler is 28 years of age. Been competitive with Maidstone United in and around the top seven of the National League South. Played extensively in the National League with Aldershot Town. He is the type of player that – if you’re The Daggers – you want to build your side around.

Anthony Papadopoulos (Crawley Town – free)

One area of the pitch in which The Daggers looked weak this season is in the centre of the park. Notably, energy against the ball and the ability to press. The athleticism and engine to get about the pitch and track runners. An eye for a goal from deep and the ability to break lines and make clever runs into the box. One player who does provide the requisite ticks in the box is Crawley Town’s Anthony Papadopoulos. 

Papadopoulos is no stranger to the National League South, having enjoyed loan spells at Maidstone United and more recently Chelmsford City. Dagenham and Redbridge don’t want to take too many risks in their recruitment if they can avoid it, and so signing a player that has got experience of the league certainly helps. 

He is a player that has always impressed me given his physical attributes. An athletic, line-breaking, box-to-box midfielder with incredible energy, a brilliant athlete that dedicates himself to the profession well and looks after himself, and is a capable presser from the front. He is most effective playing as a #8 with the license to get about the pitch, albeit makes his trademark runs from deep beyond the play and offers an outlet in transition as a ball-carrier and in crashing into the box to score goals. 

Despite having been on the books of Crawley Town, Papadopoulos has had little in the way of opportunities to go and play. He is only 23 years of age, and I think that he represents the type of profile that The Daggers should be investing in. A coachable player with good experience of playing at the level, a lot of room for development, and a long-term project that – with the right wind and a good level of coaching behind – can in my opinion push for the Football League again. 

Personally, I think that he has had a bit of an underwhelming 2025-26 for his own high standards, and hasn’t troubled the scoresheet as much as I think he should for a player of his quality. However, Lee Allinson is a manager that gets the best out of young players, and I feel that he would relish working with a young, technical, athletic footballer of Papadopoulos’ profile long-term.

Aaron Henry (Boreham Wood – free)

One thing that The Daggers have missed in their side this term is experience. When I have watched them, I feel they don’t have that leader who can take control of a game, organise and motivate players. One player who is experienced and been part of successful sides and may well be a good fit for taking up this more of a leadership role within the group is Aaron Henry. 

Henry has enjoyed a loan spell with Hornchurch earlier this season in the National League South, having seemingly fallen out of favour with Boreham Wood. Luke Garrard’s side are blessed with a strong group of midfield options – e.g. Marshall-Miranda, Brunt, Booty, White and Payne – and so Henry may well be one that is allowed to leave the club during the summer. 

One thing that I think The Daggers have lacked in their team is that midfield profile that can get on the ball and control the tempo of a game. Sit in front of the backline. A press-resistant player that can play off either foot. Take the ball under pressure. Be a proficient passer. Make efficient use of the ball in recycling through midfield. Henry is someone that has made a reputation for being a deeper-lying midfield who is well-suited to these exact skillsets, and he would certainly provide The Daggers with a profile they don’t have. 

One of the ways in which I feel this Daggers side will oversee major improvement next term is in signing players who have better game intelligence and experience, and a player of Henry’s profile represents a good fit. On a free transfer, I think that he would be an astute capture.

Isiah Noel-Williams (Hemel Hempstead Town – free)

The third player on this list that I think Lee Allinson may well be tempted to go back to his former club to sign is young midfielder Isiah Noel-Williams. He has been a bit of a revelation for The Tudors this term in helping them to get into the play-offs, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Allinson had a desire to work with him again.

In terms of his profile, Noel-Williams is perfect for playing in Lee Allinson’s system. His approach relies on having energy, running and power, and the former Kettering Town man certainly provides the requisite ticks in the box in this regard. He is an incredible athlete, with relentless pressing, good stamina, and the long-legged running style to excel as a box-to-box midfielder. 

Physically, he is a real beast. A large and imposing customer with a well-built frame. He is destructive in his pressing with a strong willingness to win the ball back. While he has got the physical attributes, he couples that with being strong technically, surprisingly good with the ball at his feet for someone of his size and stature with intricacy to play in tight spaces. He is a versatile attacking player, too. Most effective – I feel – as a #10 with a license to roam. He can deployed in a deeper role, and even through the middle as a makeshift #9. That durability is useful for The Daggers. 

When I watched The Daggers this season, I felt that they lacked a) athleticism and b) mobility. When they have gone direct into a front man – predominantly Andy Caroll or Stan Leech – they have lacked that midfield runner that is able to get up in support of the play, break from midfield and get beyond the ball. The midfield distances from the front are too big, and so with Lee Allinson – a manager that similarly plays fairly direct in build-up – they definitely find that profile of player. 

That is something which I think Noel-Williams is strong at, having shown during his time with Kettering Town – especially during their FA Cup run – that has got the engine and the energy to do that. A ‘Duracell Bunny’ with the way in which he is able to press with intensity right throughout the ninety and in covering ground efficiently, I think that he is ideal for playing a front-footed, attacking brand of football with physicality and power.

He is only 23 years of age, and so he represents the type of signing that The Daggers can invest time in to nurture, improve and provide a pathway into not only full-time football, but in progressing the pyramid. If they can get it done, I think it would be a stellar piece of business for The Daggers.

Kian Pennant (Woking – free)

Under Lee Bradbury, The Daggers largely used a system that involved wing-backs and so they didn’t really use your traditional ‘wingers’. As such, this is definitely an area in which they must try and address in the summer. 

One player who I feel could be of interest to Dagenham and Redbridge as a prospective signing is Kian Pennant. A young player formerly of Leicester City’s academy, he signed a deal until the end of the campaign with Woking. He has certainly not ripped up any trees since signing for The Cards, he has definitely shown the odd flashes of a talented player and one who can be hugely effective in a side if given the freedom and the environment to flourish. 

I feel that Pennant is a fairly unique profile given that he is your archetypal ‘speedboat’ type player. Incredible pace and energy. Direct. A willing runner whose first thought is to commit players and get them running back towards their own goal. He is a left-footed player who can provide value to Dagenham and Redbridge be it playing off the left as a ‘traditional’ winger in keeping the width and getting delivery into the forward players, but can be equally effective playing off the right and cutting inside to the centre of the park to navigate shooting opportunities. 

One of the problems that I feel The Daggers had this season is that they played a system that perhaps didn’t always get the best out of the players that they had at their disposal, and not remaining adaptable to adjust to the opposition. Signing a player of Kian Pennant’s versatility – someone who can play as a winger or used through the middle – provides a number of options for The Daggers. 

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a loan spell with Gateshead prior to joining Woking on a permanent deal, and he is definitely a bit of a project. If they can coach that final action into his game, I think he is capable of being a good player for the level.

Kane Crichlow (Sutton United – free)

Another option that I think would make for a clever acquisition for The Daggers as part of efforts to rejuvenate their attacking output is Kane Crichlow. The second of two players who finished the campaign on the permanent books of Sutton United and another who found game time with Chris Agutter’s side hard to come by in 2025-26, I expect that Crichlow may be allowed to leave Gander Green Lane on a permanent deal. 

When Crichlow was on the books at Chelmsford City, the youngster developed a reputation for being one of the best up-and-coming wide attacking players in the division and rightly earned an opportunity to make the step up. He didn’t get the chance to play regular football with Sutton United, and spent much of the 2025-26 campaign out on loan back in the National League South. 

In terms of his profile, Crichlow is a quick, direct and skilful wide player that makes clever movement in off the left flank. A lovely eye for a goal. Picks up clever positions in the half-spaces to get on the turn and drive to goal with his low centre of gravity and speed. Those are the type of qualities which they have lacked in 2025-26, and so I feel that Crichlow would provide The Daggers with some much-needed creativity and end product at the top end of the pitch. 

The youngster is under contract with Sutton United for another season having signed a 2-year-deal with United last summer, but I do anticipate a situation in which Chris Agutter allows Crichlow to depart the club going into 2026-27 as he looks to freshen up the squad. Be it on a free transfer by way of a mutual termination, on loan or for a small fee to compensate for their efforts to date, I think that this is the type of player that The Daggers should be signing. Young, hungry and with a point to prove. A chance to give it ‘another go’ in proving himself at the level with the view to long-term stepping up, I feel that signing for The Daggers and being part of an exciting new project could be attractive to him. 

If he is allowed to leave Gander Green Lane, I don’t think that he will be short of offers. However, The Daggers need to go and flex their ambition during the summer if they are to mount a serious case to go and get promoted next term and so signings of this ilk would definitely help them with those aims.

Joe White (Hemel Hempstead Town – free)

One signing that I feel that we may see this summer under Lee Allinson is the addition of Joe White from his former side Hemel Hempstead Town. 

White is a versatile attacking player, capable of playing anywhere inside the front four of a 4-2-3-1 formation. He is a high-energy, hard-working, technical forward that is capable of playing either through the middle or in behind the #9. I feel that he perhaps isn’t physically strong enough back-to-goal to play as an out-and-out #9, and so I think he is most effective as a #10 where he can play between the lines, on the turn, picking up clever pockets in which to drive the ball to goal. 

When I watch White, one thing that particularly stands out for me is his game intelligence and the way in which he is able to always pick up good positions. The vision and execution in his final ball. This is the key reason as to why I like him to pick up central positions, as he is able to manipulate the ball really effectively, quick give-and-go’s, and in producing the line-breaking passes into the front players with a delicate weight of pass. 

In terms of a connection to the move, I think there are a number of factors as to why signing for The Daggers would be an attractive – and realistic – proposition for White. The 27-year-old has played under Allinson at Hendon, and followed him signing for The Tudors. Add into the mix, White is actually the son-in-law of Allinson, and so there is already a relationship there with which to draw upon as to why White might be eager to follow Lee Allinson in making the move to The Daggers. 

One of the things that I particularly like about this as a possible move is that Joe White has got a connection to The Daggers, having progressed out of their academy between 2014-16 and indeed went on to play four times in a 2-year spell for the first-team prior to leaving The Daggers to join Stevenage. Since then, he has gone away, developed his craft, played regularly in mens football and would be signing for The Daggers this summer as a far more mature and polished operator than he was nearly a decade ago. 

I think that there is something poetic about signing a player that was formerly of the club, left to get a higher move in the pyramid, and since had to re-build their career with time in the lower leagues of non-league re-signing for the club eight years on. His career has been on an upward trajectory for the last few years, and I feel that this summer would represent the right time for him to re-sign for The Daggers.

Josh Walker (Southend United – free)

One player who I wouldn’t be surprised to see end up joining the club during the summer is Josh Walker. A player that signed for Southend United in 2024. Formerly of Dagenham and Redbridge. The forward is a player that The Daggers know well. They say don’t try to re-sign players, but in this instance I think that Walker could be a good option. 

With two physical #9’s at their disposal, I feel that they could do with that smaller, nippier, agile forward that can play off them and provide an option in beyond the play. The 28-year-old’s best spell came in a Daggers shirt – scoring 20 goals in 56 games – and so The Daggers would have a body of work on which they can draw to potentially get him playing to his best.

In terms of his profile, Walker needs little in the way of an introduction to The Daggers. Too much of Dagenham and Redbridge’s football this term has been direct in the build-up and going long, but Walker is a player that likes to get the ball into feet, get on the turn and use his pace and trickery in attacking space and committing players. He allows The Daggers to diversify their attacking play given that he has the mobility and athleticism to stretch teams, and in this regard I feel he provides real value.

Walker has not been an ever-present for Southend United, playing only 27 times in the league for Kevin Maher’s side with a return of six goals to his name. With other options having been preferred for much of the campaign, I think that Josh Walker may well be one that Maher looks to move on during the summer. The attacking third of the pitch is certainly one in which there is scope for improvement going forward, and so United may well look to let him leave at the end of his contract this summer. 

Sometimes, we can overthink signings and try to be too creative in thinking ‘outside the box’, but re-signing a player that The Daggers know, who knows the club, and who knows the level at which The Daggers are at, ticks a lot of boxes. He offers The Daggers versatility in the final third in playing on the last line of the opposition be it as a wide forward or centrally, and I think that Walker would be a good addition on a free transfer.

Daniel Ogunleye (Brentwood Town – free)

In years gone by, The Daggers’ trademark has been in identifying strikers that can handle the step-up. A young player ‘banging them in’ lower down the pyramid. A project signing that they can develop, and move on to a higher level for profit. The Daggers have seen themselves the quality that you can find in the lower leagues with the success of Stan Leech, and so I am expecting that they’ll go down that route again. 

A player that has been rumoured to get a move into the EFL – or at the very least the higher levels of non-league – is Daniel Ogunleye. Prolific with Brentwood Town. A key asset in their promotion to Step Two. Numerous trials at EFL clubs during the past summer. He remains a Step Three striker for the time being, but I don’t envisage him starting the 2026-27 campaign playing his football with The Blues. 

Crucially, I think Ogunleye would provide The Daggers with some qualities that they have massively missed in 2025-26. They’ve got direct #9’s who want the ball into their chest with long-balls in Stan Leech and Andy Carroll, yet they lack that outlet in behind. The pace to stretch the opposition. 

Ogunleye is a pacey and dynamic striker. Always playing on the last line. Clever movement off the shoulder. Energetic. Powerful. Direct. Runs into space. His first instinct is to try and make runs direct-to-goal. It would diversify The Daggers’ attack. Give them a different dimension in being able to break teams down. 

One thing that he has shown is that for all of his pace, trickery and dynamism he is a good finisher. 36 goals in 43 games in helping Brentwood Town in winning promotion to Step Three. Again breaking the 20+ goal mark this term. Sometimes, you can get the physical attributes in a play and unpredictability in their movement yet compromise on the end product. In this regard, I think that Ogunleye is quite a nice profile as he covers both bases in terms of being both an athlete and a good finisher, with clean ball-striking. If The Daggers could land him, I think that it would be a stellar piece of business.