2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Stockport County

Player Decisions

Retain

Corey Addai, Andrew Wogan, Ethan Pye, Joseph Olowu, Arttu Hoskonen, Brad Hills, Josh Dacres-Cogley, Tayo Edun, Che Gardner, Jay Mingi, Owen Dodgson, Christy Grogan, Ryan Rydel, Callum Camps, Lewis Fiorini, Ollie Norwood, Jack Diamond, Mallik Mothersille, Jayden Fevrier, Owen Moxon, Lewis Bate, Adama Sidibeh, Arian Allen, Benony Breki Andresson, Kyle Wootton

Release

Ben Hinchliffe, Odin Bailey, Callum Connolly, Max Metcalfe

Loan Out

Andrew Wogan, Che Gardner, Jay Mingi, Ryan Rydel, Owen Moxon, Arian Allen, Callum Camps

Loan End

Ben Osborn, Josh Stokes, Louie Barry, Tyler Onyango, Corey Edwards, Roman Dixon, Tanto Olaofe

Sell

Jack Diamond

Sign

Ryan Glover, Kyran Gordon

Retained Squad

New Signings

Oliver Whatmuff (Manchester City – loan)

The first position in which I think we may see Jim McNulty looking to strengthen Stockport County’s side in the off season is the goalkeeping department. Corey Addai has done okay at times for The Hatters, yet with McNulty coming in then he may want to go and sign his own goalkeeper. One player that I would not be surprised to see start the 2026-27 campaign on loan at Edgeley Park is youngster Oliver Whatmuff. 

We have already seen McNulty take advantage of re-signing players that he has worked with previously at Rochdale – with the signing of centre-back Kyron Gordon – and so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him again make use of that avenue to sign another former player. Oliver Whatmuff ticks that box, having played 38 times in the league for Dale during their promotion from the National League. He kept 18 clean sheets during that time, and was highlighted as one of the standout young players in the division. 

As a player, Whatmuff provides the perfect mould of skillsets for a ‘modern day goalkeeper’ given that he is going with the ball at his feet, yet also has the imposing frame to dominate his penalty area and the mobility to be quick off his line. 

One thing that I particularly like about Whatmuff is his character. There is a lot to be said for signing players based on their personal characteristics and how they will fit into the group, and the reports I get off Whatmuff is that he is incredibly mature for his age, and is a well-liked character of the group. He has got that bit of ‘swagger’ that you perhaps want from a goalkeeper to always want to be pulling off those big saves and be the star of the show, and I feel that he would handle the pressure of taking the #1 jersey well within his step.

After coming off the back of such a strong season individually with Rochdale, I think the next step for his development is to go and test himself at a higher level. I feel that playing in League One would represent a good level at which to pitch the youngster to go and get his next challenge, and doing so under a manager that he has already played feels like a good option for him. The fact that he would be signing for a club on Manchester City’s proverbial doorstep would also provide a ‘tick in the box’ to allow for closer monitoring of his performance and offer geographical benefit to him. 

The youngster is incredibly highly-rated, and while signing for The Hatters would be a step up in two divisions to that which he played last year, I am confident that he could handle that adjustment. Whatmuff has got an incredible confidence and maturity for his age, and I would have little hesitation in putting him as the #1 in League One. He is a player who I feel has got a good chance of one day playing for the first-team at Manchester City – or at the very least at the top level – and so I think it would be a bit of a coup for The Hatters to get him.

Josh Flint (Crawley Town – free)

I am expecting that Jim McNulty will look to utilise the same system (3-4-3) that got him such success at Rochdale, and so that will mean Stockport County adapt to a back three from the four they played for much of 2025-26. They have already signed Kyron Gordon to strengthen their options in the defensive third, but I feel they should also look to bring in a left-footer to complement what they’ve got. One player I would be looking at is Josh Flint. 

One of my criticisms of The Hatters backline last term was that for all of his qualities, I thought that Ethan Pye perhaps struggled when playing against the quicker, more direct, straight-line runners. Pye isn’t the most mobile of defenders, and as you saw in the final against Bolton Wanderers he found it tough in having to mark the runs in behind of Cozier-Dubbery and co, and that he wasn’t the most comfortable when defending wide spaces. I think that long-term Flint will likely play in teams that operate more of a rigid, stay-at-home four, and so potentially there is food for thought in how The Hatters implement a 3-4-3. 

Regardless, I think that Pye could quite easily be used as the central centre-back in the three and so signing a left-footed option to provide some competition would be useful. Josh Flint comes off the back of a season in which or the major part he has played in a back three, and so he has got an appreciation as to the elements required to play in that system. I think that playing him on the left-hand side of the back three gets the best out of his attributes given that it allows him the ability to step into midfield with the ball, play wide and play out. 

As a player, Flint represents a very attractive profile given his size, the fact that he is left-footed, strong on the ball in playing out and that he has the mobility to defend wide spaces. In terms of style, Flint is emblematic of Sam Beckwith who did well under McNulty at Rochdale. In terms of the type of defender that County should be looking for on the left of that back three, I think that they have got to be technically strong and agile, and Flint provides those requisite ticks against his name. 

Personally, I feel Flint is a much better player than we have perhaps seen at Crawley Town. Playing in a largely dysfunctional Town side, Flint has perhaps not had the weight of support alongside him or expertly coached. In a more coherent County side and under a top coach in the form of Jim McNulty who has got a track record of developing good defenders, I think that Stockport County is a good environment for him. 

The defender is only 25 years of age, and so he is coming into the perceived primitive years of his career. The Hatters have already signed two players in Kyron Gordon (24) and Ryan Glover (25) of a similar age and that they can sign on a long-term deal and put trust in. Flint very much buys into the profile of players that County are looking to sign, and I think that he has got the next gear to go to in his game. As a project, I feel he is a good option.

Jordi Osei-Tutu (unattached – free agent)

Josh Dacres-Cogley has impressed in parts for The Hatters this season, but I definitely feel that is an area in which County can strengthen in the summer. One target that is available by way of being let go by Bolton Wanderers at the end of 2025-26 and who I have quite liked the look of when I have seen him play is Jordi Osei-Tutu. 

I am fully expecting that Jim McNulty will play a 3-4-3 formation – or at the very least a variation of that system with wing-backs – and so I think that is a position that they may look to add. Despite getting into the final of the League One play-offs, there are definitely areas in which County can improve going into 2026-27 and one of them is to add speed, power and physicality to the group so that they can be more effective out-of-possession. 

Ultimately, the system that McNulty employs relies on having wing-backs that are incredibly athletic and capable of getting forward and so Osei-Tutu is a good stylistic fit. With the ball, Osei-Tutu operates almost like a winger given that he is a forward-thinking, aggressive, agile runner that has got a good turn of pace. He is incredibly incisive in his running when he has the ball in driving at space, and is a good ball-carrier. Having an athlete as strong as Osei-Tutu in the wide areas allows County to be more penetrative in transition, and give them more of an outlet than they’ve had this season. 

When he was with Bolton Wanderers, he has the trademark ‘out to in’ runs whereby he is able to drag the ball inside onto his left, work the ball out of his feet and drive the ball to goal and create separation from his marker. 

With The Hatters looking to get promoted out of League One next season and go one better than this year, I feel that they need to try and find the right balance between players that have ‘been there and done it’ in League One and those that are in their early 20’s and more of an ‘up and coming’ prospect. Osei-Tutu is now 27 years of age, and comes off the back of a season in which he won promotion from League with Bolton Wanderers. Adding that experience to the group is invaluable. 

He is available on a free transfer after being let go by The Trotters, and while I think he will have a fair bit of interest in his services I do feel The Hatters should be one of the sides at the front of the queue for his signature. I think that providing Dacres-Cogley with a good level of competition would be incredibly useful. He can play on either side. He is a more attacking profile than they’ve got currently in Dacres-Cogley. He represents the type of signing that they have to take less of a chance on, and that could be key if they’re to elevate the overall level of the group going forward.

Ossama Ashley (Salford City – free)

Ollie Norwood has been superb for The Hatters during 2025-26, and he will again be key to their efforts next year. If County are to harness the best out of their midfield, I think that there is a need for them to add a physically combative, tough-tackling, ball-winner at the base that can complement Norwood. One player 

With Salford City failing to win promotion from League Two, it is only expected that The Ammies will lose players such as Ossama Ashley and so it is no surprise that Ashley has announced he will be departing this summer. Ashley has been tipped for moves into League One previously and has always resisted on those occasions potentially by way of The Ammies’ eagerness to retain him in helping their own ambitions, but I feel this summer may represent the right time for Ashley to finally make that step up. 

I think that The Hatters should be looking for a midfielder that has got the physical attributes to complement more of a technician in Norwood. A good tackler. Someone that is capable of being that little bit more industrious, and covers ground well in screening the backline. They have missed a profile of a player that can get about the pitch, turn the play over, win the ball back and that has got the athleticism to go with more of a static operator in Norwood, and Ashley is a good fit. 

He is a strong athlete, with a good engine, a high work-rate off the ball and is a player that will be aggressive in his pressing. He is effective when able to step out and engage players, and while he is perhaps not the most accomplished when he has got the ball in playing out he has got a nice ability to be disruptive and effective in dispossessing the opposition. When I have watched The Hatters, they’ve definitely missed that player that can make it difficult for the opposition to get into their rhythm and Ashley provides the profile they are looking for.

Ashley is now 26 years of age, and so I think that he is a good age that is coming into the best years of his career. The Hatters have already shown what their approach is going to be in the market in terms of signing players that have perhaps played at a lower level that are capable of stepping up, and Ashley is one of those that I feel is more than good enough to test himself in League One having been one of the better defensive midfielders over the last few years in League Two with The Ammies. 

I feel that Ashley will be a bit of an ‘under the radar’ signing for The Hatters given that he has not played as prominent a role for City this term with only 18 games across the 2025-26 campaign. However, I maintain that he is a good player and so I think there is decent value here on a free transfer. I think that if they can keep him fit then he is more than capable as a starter in League One.

Jacob Brown (unattached – free agent)

The final player on this list that I would sign during the summer if I were in The Hatters’ shoes is Jacob Brown. Released at the end of the campaign by Luton Town, I think that the 28-year-old could provide County with an under-the-radar, slightly outside-of-the-box pick to complement what they’ve currently got on their books. He might not be a 46-game starter or regular first pick, yet I do feel that the experienced forward could represent a useful addition. 

In terms of his profile, I feel Brown provides The Hatters with some qualities which they perhaps lacked in 2025-26. He can press aggressively from the front in closing players down. He is always on the move. A good athlete. I find that functionally he gives The Hatters more of a central option to play off of Wootton. I have found that Sidibeh has done his best work when playing slightly wider and getting on the turn, whereas Brown is at his most effective when making runs into space. 

One of the key benefits that I think The Hatters would get in signing Brown is the quality of his work-rate when they have not got the ball. County were built to be a fairly technical side, yet when I’ve watched them this term they perhaps lack that agility and athleticism against the ball. Adding a player of Brown’s physicality and willingness to do the ‘hard yards’ for the side enables them to be more combative out-of-possession. 

Kyle Wootton will likely be the starting #9 for The Hatters, while Adama Sidibeh – if they can keep him – will similarly be one of the starters, perhaps in a slightly more fluid supporting role. Brown is the type of player that may not play 46 games a season, yet someone that can provide invaluable experience to the group. He is now 28 years of age and has been very much on the fringes of the first-team environments he has been around in recent years, and so I think that joining a project such as The Hatters could be quite exciting for him. He has won promotion from the league before, and so while County may put their faith in some ‘up and coming’ talent I think there is a lot of value in signing a few more ‘ready to go’ options. 

One of the reasons as to why I would be a big advocate for Brown is due to his versatility and the fact that he would provide Jim McNulty with a very similar profile to that of Devante Rodney that McNulty managed at Rochale. He can play through the middle as a #9, wide off the front as more of a winger and can be used as a wing-back. The Hatters had to withstand a fairly injury hit squad throughout the campaign – especially in the second-half – and so signing players that have the durability to adjust their role is key. 

Crucially, I think that Brown could well be a good squad option for The Hatters that can cover a few bases. He can play centrally as a #9. He can play wide. He can adapt his game to be the platform #9 to hold the play up, or play off the shoulder as a runner off the last line of the opposition.