2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Salisbury

Player Decisions

Retain

Will Buse, Josh Sommerton, Josh Gbadebo, Josh Hedges, Nathan Odokonyero, Mo Dabre, Dom Revan, Noah Coppin, Josh Keeya, Tommy Willard

Release

Evander Grubb, Matt Briggs, Ollie Bray, Tom Davies, Tom Cove, Peter Ojemen, Harry Lee

Loan End

Ollie Morgan, Malachi Ogunleye, Richard McIntyre, Balraj Landa

Retained Squad

New Signings

Ollie Morgan (AFC Bournemouth – free)

Sometimes, you’ve got to appreciate the value of what you have got in the building. In the case of Ollie Morgan, I definitely feel that there has been sufficient upside in his spell with The Whites to suggest that they should entertain the proposition of a permanent deal. 

Out of contract with The Cherries at the end of 2025-26 and – I’d hazard a guess – may well be allowed to leave the club if the right opportunity arises, the youngster would represent a clever long-term investment for Salisbury on a free transfer. Even with a potential for minimal compensation, they’d be getting a player that has familiarity of the club and represents an exciting project. 

In what is likely to be a smaller squad that has an emphasis on quality over quantity, Morgan’s versatility in being comfortable off both sides offers value for money for Brian Dutton; predominantly a left-back, yet equally capable off the right. 

Playing as an attacking player earlier in his youth career, he offers an outlet down the left-hand side with his willingness to carry from deep, get involved in attacking phases, get up on the overlap and want to pass forward. Not the biggest, but technically capable, comfortable under pressure, and with some tweaks in how he defends then I think he can be a top full-back for the level. 

Kurai Musanhi (Colchester United – loan)

The Whites have missed a player of Jordan Raguette’s playing style in wake of his exit last summer, and while Morgan has done well in parts and Richard McIntyre has looked a bright spark, I still feel they could do with that powerful, athletic, ball progressor in wide areas from deep. 

Kurai Musanhi is a good stylistic fit for that. Diminutive, yet quick, a strong runner, carries the ball efficiently, the energy to get up on the overlap and speed to defend wide spaces. His first thought is to play forward and carry to goal, and that will offer extra attacking outlet. 

When I have watched Salisbury, the wide areas are definitely one in which there is room for improvement, and Musanhi would go some way as to doing this. He is an elegant, balletic, runner with the quick feet to manipulate in tight spaces, and creates clever angles in working transitions to play through the opposition press. 

The youngster is only 20 years of age, with the extent of his minutes to date being at former club Hertford Town in non-league and a loan at Leverstock Green. A loan at Step Two would be hugely beneficial for his development. Challenge him physically. Provide the pressure he needs at his age and the stage of his career that he is at. 

A promising young talent that has already been capped by Zimbabwe, and formerly of Crystal Palace.  A lovely profile for a modern-day full-back role. Progressive. Hugely coachable. A loan would do him the world of good.

Jaiden Putman (QPR – free)

When I watched The Whites in 2025-26, I came away think that they could do with adding a right-back to provide proper balance to their side. One player who impressed me when I saw him play at Step Two and who I feel Salisbury may be able to sign is youngster Jaiden Putman. 

Off the back of a loan spell in which he impressed individually for The Romans in a season that otherwise has fallen short, The Hoops youngster has been a bright spark. 

In terms of what you look for in a full-back, Putman has all the attributes for the modern day game. An aggressive, front-footed, quick, ball-carrying full-back that is strong in transition, can defend wide spaces, and engages in foot races. 

The Whites could well benefit from having that extra attacking drive from deep in the wide areas, and having an athlete like Putman that can get up in support of the play will be hugely benefcial in terms of improving their output going forward. 

Out of contract in the summer, Putman may well feel that this could be the ideal opportunity in which he can knuckle down on a permanent basis and play regular football at first-team level. Going into a Salisbury side that has proven to be a good environment for young players to play their football, I think it would be a good option for both parties. 

Thomas Conteh (Forest Green Rovers – loan)

Harry Tustin impressed me in his brief loan with The Whites last term. Energy. Pressure and aggression against the ball. Pace in possession. The power to drive from deep. They’ve been crying out for that profile in his absence. 

While first-team exposure is limited, I really like the look of Forest Green Rovers’ Thomas Conteh. Likely won’t get afforded the luxury of regular minutes with Savage’s side given their lofty ambitions at the top of the National League. Minutes to date limited to NL Cup. I feel a Step Two would be a logical next step for his development. 

He is a slightly different profile to Tustin, with Tustin more of an #8 whereas Conteh is most effective slightly higher with license to roam and effect the play going forward. Played as a wide forward in time at Hungerford Town, I think that he’d be incredibly effective as an advanced midfielder in forcing turnovers, attacking space between the lines and playing at speed.

In terms of what I think The Whites need in the middle of the park, Conteh provides those skillset. An incredible engine. Athletic. Aggressive in the press. A good runner beyond the play. Direct. Takes risks. A little raw, but he will always look to receive under pressure. 

There is definitely development do in his game. I feel he needs to develop a bit of a personality to demand the ball and of his team mates. Decision-making. Use of the ball. However, there is a good underlying base skillset and is highly coachable out of a strong academy.

Jonathon Page (Yeovil Town – free)

Salisbury were at their best this term when they had Harry Tustin in the centre of the park. Capable of dictating the tempo of a game, control from deep, and receiving the ball under pressure. The Whites have definitely missed that profile of midfielder who can circulate the ball, receive off either foot and take the sting out of a game. 

One option that I think The Whites should look at is Jonathon Page. Signed for Yeovil Town midway through 2025-26, the former Walton and Hersham man has found game time and fitness hard to come by, and as a result of that I fully expect that he will be allowed to leave the club during the summer. 

Despite Walton and Hersham’s promotion to Step Two and the possibility that he could make a permanent return to The Swans, I feel that the oppotunity to go into a side where he is more likely to get afforded with the luxury of regular minutes such as The Whites may be beneficial. Playing largely in a double-pivot of a 4-2-3-1, Page would thrive in front of Salisbury’s backline. 

He is a technically proficient player. Press resistant. A strong passer. An intelligent player who reads the game well and screens the defence well, with the ability to play out. Always showing for the ball and receiving against the press, and pasing vertically through the lines. I feel Salisbury’s overall game will benefit in having that player who can provide greater control in games, and a player like Page would definitely do that. 

On a free transfer, the midfielder would represent a smart acquisition in my eyes. He complements the energy they’ve got in the middle of the park given he is more of a quiet operator with the intelligence to play, and with experience of the league, and so I think he should be top of their list. 

George Dowling (Frome Town – free)

One profile that I think The Whites have lacked this term is that player who can drive from deep in midfield and score goals. George Dowling is someone that I have admired for a number of years – initially at Torquay United – and if Salisbury could land him then they’d get the exact profile of midfielder that they need. 

Off the back of a strong campaign for title winners Frome Town, Dowling has re-invented his career after falling out of professional football with Bristol City. An academy graduate at Ashton Gate, the 27-year-old has found his feet in a Town side that pride themselves on playing good football and have done so to the tune of marking an instant return to Step Three. 

He is the type of player who thrives in that #10 role. Stepping onto the play. Runs from deep. The powerful running to get beyond the play and break into the box. An eye for a goal very Lampard-esque. A great shot on him from distance. The confidence to always show for the ball and get on the turn. He has got real ability, and I think he can step up to Step Two. 

Formerly of the National League at Torquay United during a loan, fleeting appearances for The Robins in the Championship, and a raft of non-league appearances, he is an infectious character. Full of energy. A swagger. A bullish confidence to effect the game. Capable of playing in any of the three midfield roles. An all-rounder. 

He will likely want to remain with The Robins as they go into Step Three having been such an integral part of Danny Greaves’ side, yet the possibility of playing Step Two football again could be a suitable enough attraction for him to be interested in the move. 

Yahya Bamba (Forest Green Rovers – free)

One area that I think Salisbury do need to address is their attacking output. A bit too predictable in their approach. Heavily biased to the left-hand side. A lot of focus on building up through Noah Coppin. I feel that they need to variant their attack, and signing a right winger would help that. 

This is perhaps the one signing on this list that I think would be the biggest coup for The Whites, yet given their increased investment then it is definitely the type that could elevate them to the next portion of the league. Yahya Bamba would join from a Forest Green Rovers side that finished inside the top seven last term, and will be eager to scale similar heights this term. 

Bamba is exactly the type of attacking profile The Whites have been missing this term. Blistering pace. Direct. Playing off the shoulder. Strong in 1-on-1 situations. Provides natural width at his best coming in from the touchline and attacking the play. Powerful. A good size. Capable in the air, and aggressive with his carrying of the ball. 

He is a player that offers a little bit of variety and chaos in his game. The type to get the fans off the seat. Get defenders running back towards their own goal. A player who I think can inject pace and power into Salisbury’s attacking play. He would be a smart loan capture. 

Harry Parsons (Chippenham Town – free)

The problem for The Whites has been goals. Efforts mid-term to address this with Nathan Odokonyero are promising, and I retain faith that the 23-year-old is going to be a success. Yet, they need to bolster the depth of attacking options through the centre of the pitch. 

One player that I think they should look at – and is attainble for them – is Harry Parsons at Chippenham Town. A benefactor of The Bluebirds’ relegation to Step Three, Parsons has hit double figures in a Town side in which he has been used in a somewhat deeper role at the tip of midfield. 

The 23-year-old has experience for the level, and represents a fairly safe pair of hands for The Whites. A lovely all-round skillset to complement Odokonyero’s profile. Quick. Agile. Clever movement. Technically strong. Intelligent runs from deep. Capable of playing on the shoulder, running the channels and attacking spaces. 

With Odokonyero likely to lead the line, The Whites would need that nippier and more agile profile to play alongside and so Parsons provides the requisite ticks in the box. 

Owen Windsor (Bath City – free)

I have quite liked the look of Owen Windsor in 2025-26. Not the biggest output of goals – with only five in 27 for The Romans – but there have been some encouraging signs. Flashes of quality. Signs of a player there with the right coaching, I feel. Available on a free, I think that Windsor might be worth a look for The Whites. 

He is a slightly unique profile for a #9 as a left-footer. Capable playing off the right-hand side cutting in. Provides balance to the attack to complement their existing options. 

I feel Windsor himself needs to settle down and find that permanent home after a very nomadic career to date. The opportunity to do so with The Whites on a multi-year deal, still at a good age, out of a strong academy set-up, with good experience for the level. There are a number of requisite ticks against the box there for me to represent a suitable project. 

A capable presser off the front. Fairly quick. Good movement. He has shown in a number of different environments that he has managed to be a fairly good finisher in front of goal, especially in sides with fairly low-volume creativity from open play. There is a player here and in a system that will – touch wood – be hopefully see Dutton provide a little more attacking freedom in their approach, Windsor would be a good option.