2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Scunthorpe United

Player Decisions

Retain

Ross Barrows, Maison Campbell, Tyler Denton, Will Evans, Louis Jones, Harry Shipstone, Alfie Beestin, Jean Belehouan, Declan Howe, Pat Jones, Branden Horton, Oliver Rose, Joe Rowley, Connor Smith, Danny Whitehall, Joe Starbuck

Release

Mark Beck, Andrew Boyce, Max Brogan, Joey Dawson, Jonathan Gjoshe, Kian Scales

Lose

Callum Roberts, Oli Ewing

Loan End

Aidan Dausch, Kyle Hurst, Rory Mahady, Zain Westbrooke

Sign

Reagan Ogle, Callum Howe, Luke Brennan, Jacob Butterfield, James Gale, Kyle Hurst, Jordan Richards

Retained Squad

New Signings

Ryan Delaney (Swindon Town – free)

The Iron have already signed a new centre-back this summer in the form of experienced campaigner Callum Howe, as the former York City man returns to the club after last being a United player 11 years ago. Despite having four centre-back options on the books already, I would be looking to add another centre-back to their ranks to give them five in order to provide flexibility of system in how they set up. One player that I think could be worth consideration as a prospective signing is another former Scunthorpe United man in the form of Ryan Delaney. 

Iron boss Andy Butler has already signed a few players this summer that have played previously for the club – in Callum Howe, Reagan Ogle and Jacob Butterfield – and so Delaney is another that would provide the requisite tick in that experience box having spent time with United during the season in which they were relegated out of the Football League. The defender only spent a brief time on loan with United during that season, playing a total of 17 league games under Keith Hill – but I feel that he could well be interested in a permanent return to the club. 

In terms of the attributes that I would typically look for in a centre-back, Delaney represents a nice profile. He is a physically imposing and combative defender – standing at 6ft 5in – and is someone that prides himself on being a strong box defender that is good at the ‘basics’ of defending. He is particularly aggressive and on the front foot in the way that he defends, relishes duels, and is a threat in both boxes.

Delaney would provide The Iron with proper balance in their backline as he is a left-footed defender. I think that finding a left-sided centre-back that is left-footed is key in providing the right passing lanes out through midfield, and being comfortable defending in wide areas.

One of the major attractions that I think there is in signing Delaney is that he has got the experience and leadership you’d look for in a side competing at the top end of the National League, yet provides a younger option to that which they have currently in Will Evans. While Evans remained a fixture of their backline last year, the defender is now 34 years of age and so is five years older than the former Robins defender. As they look to be competitive at the top end of the league against this season, I feel that there is value in signing a younger profile of centre-back to enable them to defend more effectively against the fitter, quicker, more mobile sides that they’ll likely come up against. 

Delaney was let go by League Two side Swindon Town at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, and so the 29-year-old is available on a free transfer. He spent time out on loan with Newport County towards the back-end of last season and so he may well be looking to try and get another EFL opportunity going into 2026-27, yet I feel that as a statement signing for The Iron ahead of what they’ll be hoping is another play-off campaign I think that he could represent an astute capture.

Funso Ojo (Port Vale – free)

The second player on this list is another that will need little in the way of an introduction to Scunthorpe United fans owing to the fact that he has previously played for The Iron, and a player that I think would definitely fall into the category of a being a ‘coup’ in former Port Vale midfielder Funson Ojo. Ojo was let go by The Valiants at the end of the campaign and is yet to find himself a new club, and if I were in Andy Butler’s position then I would – at the very least – be asking the question of whether the 34-year-old could be tempted to re-sign for the club this coming season. 

The majority of Ojo’s more recent game time has come in the Football League, and so he would be having to drop down a division in signing for The Iron. However, Ojo is now in his mid-30’s and so the fact that he can play in the National League and perhaps be better-suited to the pace of the game may well represent a sensible option for the experienced midfielder. After being released by The Valiants ahead of their return to League Two, I think that it remains to be seen as to whether he will get another EFL opportunity. 

Despite having had a fairly underwhelming 2025-26 as part of a Valiants side that struggled near the bottom of League One, I feel that signing a player of Ojo’s experience and profile would be a statement. 

In terms of his profile, Ojo is a box-to-box midfielder. When I have watched Scunthorpe United, I feel that they potentially lack that physical presence and athleticism in the centre of the park. They have re-signed a strong technician in the form of Jacob Butterfield that will want to get on the ball and create, while Rowley is an intelligent footballer. As a complement to what they have currently got on their books, I feel that signing a player of the size and physicality of Ojo would make their midfield unit far more well-rounded, allow them to handle the combative nature of the National League and crucially provide them with more against the ball. 

Ojo’s departure from Scunthorpe United the first time around came off the back of two campaigns in which he played 40+ times in all competitions prior to joining Aberdeen. He is nearing the end of his professional career, but I would personally like to see him return to Scunthorpe United for a ‘last dance’ in United colours. While he perhaps may not have the speed and mobility for the intensity of EFL football at this point in his career, I think that he remains a good technical operator and offers value for the fifth tier. If they could convince him to re-sign going into 2026-27, I feel it would be a good signing.

Luca Barrington (Boston United – free)

With Callum Roberts leaving the club, Andy Butler had a tricky assignment on his hands in trying to find a replacement to maintain their threat in the wide areas. Youngster Luke Brennan has signed from Buxton ahead of 2026-27, and I think that he will be a huge success this coming season for Andy Butler’s side. I would still be looking to add a wide attacking player to the ranks, and so one potential option that I think they could consider on a free transfer is youngster Luca Barrington. 

Barrington was let go by Boston United at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, and in truth I was a little bit surprised by that decision as he has always been a player that I have liked the look of when I have seen him play. While The Pilgrims may have opted against re-signing forms with the youngster going into 2026-27, I would retain belief in Barrington being a useful operator for the level and if Andy Butler is looking for a bit of a project that they can bring, potentially as a number two option, and on a long-term deal that they can develop then I think the former Manchester City youngster could be worth a look. 

The ex City academy product spent time with Brighton and Hove Albion, with the bulk of his minutes in a first-team environment coming during a loan spell with Grimsby Town during the 2024-25 campaign in League Two. While he didn’t rip up any trees during his time with The Pilgrims, Barrington has had a good grounding in top academy environments, has developed a strong technical competency and is an intelligent footballer that wants to receive the ball in tight spaces, get on the turn and has got a delicate weight of pass. 

Barrington is a skilful and quick-footed attacking player, with the intricacy to play between the lines. Looking at this Scunthorpe United side, I feel that they could do with a creative central profile in their group to enable them to open teams up more effectively when pressed against the ball. Comparing The Iron to some of the top teams, I think Andy Butler could do with adding that player that can get on the ball under pressure, drive the ball to goal and has got a good passing range.

I think that the youngster is most effective playing off the left-hand side as an inverted forward whereby he can step onto the play and cut inside onto his stronger right. He is a clean ball-striker, is quick to get shots off and I feel he can be particularly dangerous when facing the goal centrally. He carries the ball well, the low centre of gravity and deft close control to drop a shoulder in changing direction, is a confident dribbler and wants to take players on. 

If The Iron are to play a 4-2-3-1 system, Barrington can provide options for Andy Butler playing either off the left or in behind the striker as a #10. They have already made a number of signings that will likely have been fairly costly given they have come from higher divisions and off the back of good seasons, and so I feel that signing a composite option like Barrington with good long-term value for development offers sensible value for The Iron. He went slightly under the radar during 2025-26, but I think that the youngster could well represent a clever addition to the group.

Kian Harratt (Oldham Athletic – free)

The final player that I have picked out on this list as a prospective signing for Scunthorpe United going into 2026-27 is Kian Harratt. Released by Oldham Athletic at the end of the campaign, I think that the 24-year-old may well be a clever option. He may well not be the ‘flashy’ name that they could sign, yet I think that the forward would complement The Iron’s existing striking options nicely. 

Harratt was let go by The Latics, and so if I was a betting man then I would say that his likely next club will be in the National League. In truth, I think that he perhaps needs to drop back down in the fifth tier, get a regular run of games under his belt, and develop his craft having been very much on the periphery in his last few moves. I feel that dropping into the National League would provide him with that opportunity. He has flitted around the EFL with multiple loan moves and been on the fringes wherever he has been, and so I think he needs to find that environment in which he can go and sign a 2 or 3-year-deal, settle down and properly kick start his career. 

One of the things that I particularly like about Harratt is the fact that he can play as that central striker in leading the line, or slightly wider off the front, and so can provide an alternative to Danny Whitehall in managing his minutes or as a secondary striker with the freedom to make intelligent runs off him. Harratt has a good physical profile, is fairly strong in the air, makes clever use of his body and is a mobile operator with a nice turn of speed. 

Indeed, this is one area in which I feel that The Iron could strengthen during the summer in adding some extra pace and power to the forward line. At times, I felt that they perhaps lacked that mobility at the top end of the pitch, whereas Harratt is someone that plays in behind with his pace. He presses aggressively from the front, can run the channels and has got a strong work-rate. This would allow the likes of Whitehall to remain central so that he can get on the end of things and not have to do as much work outside of the box, and I think that is only going to be of benefit. 

One of the advantages that you get in signing Harratt is that he has been part of a side that have won promotion from the National League, having been on the books at Oldham Athletic and indeed scored the winner for The Latics at Wembley. Scunthorpe United will harbour ambitions of going one better and getting out of the league in 2026-27, and so adding a player to their ranks that has ‘been there and done it’ is always useful. 

The question mark with Harratt is the off-field logistics, yet I think that if you can get him enjoying his football and keep him motivated then he can be a good player. He needs to go into a club – like he has had at Oldham Athletic with Micky Mellon – that is going to put an arm round him and stand by him. I don’t think that Harratt is a bad kid and has just made a few bad decisions, and if I was in Butler’s shoes then I would personally relish the opportunity to get him playing and give him a chance. I like the fact that Harratt will have that hunger to prove people wrong and grasp the opportunity, and so if the money is right I would have a look.