2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Truro City

Player Decisions

Retain

Conor Riley-Lowe, Will Dean, Tyler Harvey, Harry Charsley, Harry Kite, Ryan Law, Shaun Donellan, Jack Stretton, Zac Bell, Lirak Hasani

Release

Dom Johnson-Fisher, Sam Sanders, Tyler Love-Holmes, Saikou Janneh, Luke Jephcott, Dan Rooney, Billy Palfrey, Yassine En-Neyah, Rekeil Pyke, Aidan Stone, Tom Harrison, Dan Lavercombe, Ben Starkie

Lose

Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain

Loan End

George Cooper, Max Kinsey, Caleb Roberts, Freddie Issaka

Retained Squad

New Signings

Shaun MacDonald (Newport County – free)

One area that I feel The Tinners need to address in the summer as priority is the #1 spot. I think that potentially it is an easy follow to change a goalkeeper when you have just been relegated, but in the case of Aidan Stone I do feel that City may well want to try and look elsewhere in the summer. He is only contracted until the end of the 2025-26 campaign, and so that provides The Tinners the opportunity to freshen up the squad during the close season. 

One of the reasons as to why I think Shaun MacDonald could be a realistic option for City to sign is because he already has a strong relationship with Tinners goalkeeping coach Phil Osborn. The pair worked together at Torquay United during the season that they got promoted into the National League and when The Gulls almost got promoted out of the National League, losing in the play-off final. Having that familiarity there on which to build may well benefit The Tinners in having a goalkeeper that knows how to get the best out of. 

In terms of the type of goalkeeper profile that he is, Shaun MacDonald is an agile shot-stopper that has good movement off his line. Comfortable coming to sweep up. Surprisingly quick for a goalkeeper in coming out for things. Capable of playing out from the back in the mould of the ‘modern day goalkeeper’, and has good distribution. 

Personally, I feel that this is the type of move that Shaun MacDonald should be all over. For the last few seasons, he has been seemingly contempt to be a number two or in the case of his time at Exeter City as a third-choice, but I maintain that he is a good goalkeeper. He should be challenging himself and going and playing football, and so the opportunity to do that with a goalkeeping coach he knows and at a level which he has won before represents a smart move for both parties. 

He has spent a lot of time in the South West given his recent moves at Torquay United, Exeter City and Newport County, and so I feel that the prospect of joining The Tinners is a geographical barrier that would require very little in the way of navigating. He is 29 years of age, and I think that he would represent a good addition for The Tinners in terms of strengthening the goalkeeping department. It would give him a chance to go and be a #1 again, and that is what I feel he needs at this point in his career.

Will Armitage (Southampton – free)

The next player that I would sign is youngster Will Armitage. He has enjoyed a number of loan spells during 2025-26, finishing the campaign with relegated Eastbourne Borough. In terms of having experience for the league into which City are heading then he definitely has the requisite tick in the box. 

I have been impressed by Will Armitage when I have seen him play, and I think that he has the potential to be a top defender. Still only 21 years of age. A hugely successful loan with Aldershot Town. Experience with Brackley Town and Eastbourne Borough. He graduated from a top academy in Southampton. He has been in a number of different environments to date, and – in my opinion – showed up quite nicely across the board in them all. 

For a centre-back, I think he represents quite a nice all-round profile. Taught to play the right way and in being comfortable on the ball in an academy that has a reputation for being one of the better ball-playing academies in Southampton. Yet, he is capable as an out-and-out box defender with his aerial quality, aggression against the ball, physicality and willingness to win the ball as a committed, no-nonsense, diligent centre-back. Perhaps not the quickest in defending space, but strong when defending behind the ball. 

I feel that The Tinners should make greater use of the academies that are local to them on the South Coast, and in Will Armitage they would be signing a player out of one of the best youth academies in the country. Capable of playing in a three or a four, I believe that he would be a good addition as a long-term project for John Askey to develop.

Scott Bennett (Cheltenham Town – free)

One player that I am suggesting that The Tinners sign this summer having previously picked him last summer as a potential target for City is Scott Bennett. On the books at Cheltenham Town until the end of the 2025-26 campaign, the experienced campaigner has – as expected – been allowed to leave in the summer for pastures new having already been deemed surplus to requirements this year. 

One thing that I feel that The Tinners missed this term is that experience and leadership, but I feel Bennett would provide that. As someone that has been there and done it before with multiple promotions and having held the captaincy at various clubs, I think that he is the type of player that could make a huge difference in upholding standards and demanding from players in the dressing room. At the very least, a player that has got experience of big games. Can handle pressure. A leader. 

In terms of the type of player that he is, Bennett is a holding midfielder albeit is capable of playing in the centre of defence. A good size. An intelligent player that screens the back four, aggressive against the play, a strong ball-winner and someone that has got the calmness to control the tempo of a game. He is a fantastic leader having been one of the key architects of Newport County’s success under Mike Flynn. A strong orator. Positionally strong, and organises players well. He provides The Tinners with the qualities they have missed this season in terms of that control and combative edge against the ball. 

Bennett is at the point in his career now whereby I feel he will be looking to drop out of the Football League, find a new challenge, potentially with half an eye towards retirement and life after football, and so I think The Tinners could represent a nice option for him. Originally from Cornwall and having spent the majority of his playing career in the South West, I think that he could be persuaded to sign for The Tinners.

Matt Preston (Hereford – free)

Personally, I feel that Preston’s career stagnated somewhat having drifted around clubs in the Midlands and so if I was advising him then I would seriously consider the opportunity to go and try something a bit different, push himself out of his comfort zone and have a change of scenery in joining a club like Truro City. Perhaps away from home. A new challenge.

One profile that I think The Tinners have missed this term is that big, aggressive ball-winner in the backline. They have been too easy to play against at times, and have perhaps missed that bit of physicality, tenacity to win the ball and a little more industrious centre-back type. Preston is a powerful centre-back that has developed a reputation for being a no-nonsense and touch-tight defender and I think he would complement The Tinners’ existing defensive options quite well.

In terms of his profile, Preston is aerially strong, robust in the tackle, and is a good box defender. He perhaps isn’t as polished with the ball at his feet, but in terms of defending goal, being fully committed and slightly unfashionable in his defending then I feel the experienced centre-back offers real value for The Tinners.

One of the things that Preston also offers The Tinners is that leadership and experience. I feel City have lacked that personality and organisation on the pitch during 2025-26, and so being able to add a player that has been part of successful sides, with good experience under his belt and that is a vocal operator in demanding from his team mates is incredibly useful in ensuring they have got the qualities to bounce back after relegation.

He was let go by National League North Hereford at the end of the season, and so is available on a free transfer. The Tinners have shown that they can take an ex-Kidderminster Harriers player in Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain and have given his career a new lease life, and so I feel that a similar move for Preston could well give him a new motivation at this point of his career at 31 years of age.

Liam Sercombe (Forest Green Rovers – free)

One player that is available this summer after being let go by his parent club at the end of the campaign is Forest Green Rovers midfielder Liam Sercombe. He finished on loan at National League South side Weston-super-Mare, and while The Seagulls may well wish to re-sign him on a permanent basis I think that he could be a good option for The Tinners.

He has spent the majority of his footballing career in the South West, with spells at Exeter City, Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Forest Green Rovers and more recently The Seagulls, and so it is a fairly logical assumption that his next move will be somewhere in the South West. Especially at his age (36), I think it is unlikely that he will move house or ‘up sticks’ to relocate.

In terms of his profile, Sercombe is capable of playing as a winger or central midfielder, albeit he is now used in a slightly deeper role as a #8 whereby he can utilise his composure in possession, technical quality and positional intelligence in dictating the tempo of a game. He makes efficient use of the ball, is intelligent, has a delicate weight of pass and progressive in passing through the lines. The Tinners have not really had that metronomic operator in midfield to really dictate a game, but I think Sercombe is that.

Sercombe is in the latter years of his career, but I still think that he represents a reliable operator at the level. In what has been a difficult year for The Tinners in the National League, I think much of the work in the summer has to be around culture, recruiting good personalities and characters, and players they build a dressing room around. I feel Liam Sercombe represents a good fit for that.

Billy Phillips (Bristol City – free)

One player that I would look at if I were The Tinners having been let go by Bristol City at the end of the campaign is youngster Billy Phillips. He comes off the back of a loan spell in the National League South, and I think he might be a good option for City to sign on a permanent deal.

The youngster is one that I watched a couple of times throughout the campaign for Chippenham Town, and he has always impressed me. Playing predominantly off the left-hand side as a wide forward with The Bluebirds – albeit capable of playing as a #10, and as a secondary striker – the City academy graduate has shown himself as being a good technical footballer with a lovely energy against the ball, quick feet, direct and his first thought is to turn and drive the ball to goal.

Within this Tinners side, I think that a player of Phillips’ profile could dovetail quite nicely with Ryan Law on that left-hand side. He proved most effective with Chippenham Town with a left-back willing to get up and on the overlap to provide the width with Phillips picking up the more central, wide #10 roles between full-back and centre-back, and so I feel that there could be quite a nice combination there. Slick rotations. Working Phillips more centrally. Picking up clever pockets. Combining with Law.

As a player, Phillips is a diminutive customer. Skilful. A good ball-carrier. Incredible energy, and ability to press. A strong ball-striker. He is technically strong, with an ability to receive under pressure in tight areas and the low centre of gravity to get on the turn.

There is definitely work to do with the youngster in terms of physical development, but I think technically there is a good player here that with the right bit of coaching can be comfortable at the level.

Will Jenkins-Davies (Bath City – free)

One player that I have highlighted as being a potential target for Truro City to sign a number of names and yet never materialised is Will Jenkins-Davies. 

An attribute that Truro City have not had this term compared to some of the other teams is that goal-scoring threat from midfield. They haven’t had that player that is going to break from midfield. Get beyond the play. Has an eye for a goal. Can break the lines and make runs into the box from deep. The mindset to always want to play forward, take risks and create. 

Jenkins-Davies is an energetic, skilful and technical #10 that picks up some clever pockets of space between the lines. He plays at speed. Use of either foot. He carries the ball really effectively from deep. Agile, and has good movement. Always looking to work half a yard to get a shot off. He isn’t the biggest or the most physically competent, but in terms of his positivity to always want to pick a forward pass, commit players, and his ability to pick up good positions in and around the box in which to receive the ball he gives City something different. 

With Bath City having been relegated out of the National League South, The Romans will be eager to try and keep together their better players of which Jenkins-Davies is definitely one. That being said, I think that there has to be a sense of reality with the fact that he is good enough to be playing his football in the National League South and in my opinion will get that opportunity during the summer by way of moving on from Twerton Park and exploring new opportunities. 

The youngster is a Plymouth lad and indeed graduated out of their academy, and so signing for a Truro City side that are on their proverbial doorstep may be an attraction for him as a prospective destination. He is a player that will have been on their radar for a long time given his association with The Pilgrims, and no doubt someone that they have come close to signing on a number of occasions. I think that this summer represents – by way of The Romans’ demise – the ideal opportunity to go and finally get that deal done.

Jordan Garrick (Merthyr Town – free)

One area that Truro City were particularly lacking this term is in the wide areas. No speed. No threat in behind. Everything is too predictable. Not enough risk-takers. No natural width. Addressing that is hugely important in the summer. 

An option that I think they could look at is Jordon Garrick. He is currently playing at Merthyr Town in the National League North, having signed midway through the campaign as part of their efforts in nullifying the loss of Ricardo Rees. He has certainly not ripped up any trees when signing for The Martyrs, but he has shown glimpses of the quality player that he is and one that has played higher. Efficient use of the ball. Clever movement. An appreciation of how to get the best out of his qualities. There is definitely a nice base to work from. 

In terms of what he offers as a player, Garrick is a good athlete, a runner, with pace, power, energy and aggressive in his play in wanting to progress the ball forward. He has previously been a sprinter in his younger days, and so in terms of providing The Tinners with that outlet that can play on the last line and shift in transition he is definitely physically equipped for that. 

One of the benefits that I feel The Tinners would get in signing a player of Jordon Garrick’s profile is that he can play in a number of roles. A winger on either side. Through the middle. I am expecting that Truro City will likely have a smaller squad next term with an emphasis on quality over quantity as they look to be competitive at the top end of the National League South. As such, signing a player of Garrick’s versatility and durability may well be useful to John Askey. 

The wide player has had quite a nomadic career to this point, and so signing for Truro City wouldn’t – I feel – be all that much of a barrier for the 27-year-old. He is out of contract at the end of the campaign, and I think that The Tinners should make a move for the experienced attacker.

Dillon De Silva (Sutton United – free)

The second winger that I would look at if I were Truro City is Dillon De Silva. The 24-year-old used to be on the books of Queens Park Rangers, but he is most recently contracted to National League side Sutton United. 

De Silva is your archetypal winger in terms of an outlet in transition. Blistering pace, tricky, agile movement, unpredictable, a little bit raw and unpolished, yet someone that is going to take risks. He loves to get the ball out of his feet and carry towards goal. Commit players. Get them running back towards their own box. Particularly effective when isolating players, with deft drops of the shoulder and working the ball into space in which to make runs in behind. 

There is definitely a bit of work to do in terms of that end product and that final pass, but in terms of his physical attributes he can be a real handful. There aren’t many players at the level which I have seen that are as quick as Dillon De Silva. One thing that I particularly like about him is his no-fear approach in always wanting to receive the ball. Willing to chase lost causes. Looks to play on the last line and make runs in behind. Too much of Truro City’s football has been played in front of the opposition, but signing someone that can turn the opposition is incredibly useful. 

De Silva is no stranger to the South West having enjoyed a loan spell with Torquay United. The youngster has lost his way a bit in the last 12-18 months, having failed to properly break through into the first-team with Sutton United and having been sent out on loan. Returning to London and signing for Sutton United represent a bit of a ‘comfort zone’ option for De Silva, but I think that moving away from home and having to grow up, mature and develop away from the pitch is what he needs. 

I don’t think that Sutton United will keep hold of De Silva during the summer, as Chris Agutter looks to freshen up their side and trim the squad. De Silva has had a quiet 2025-26 in which he has spent most of it on loan away from Gander Green Lane, but I feel that he needs to go somewhere that he is going to play regularly. That is going to be most advantageous for his development.

Charles Clayden (Boreham Wood – free)

The final wide player that I think Truro City should look at signing is former Addicks youngster Charles Clayden. Currently on the books at National League side Boreham Wood, this would be somewhat of a coup if The Tinners could get it done given he has played a high volume of minutes in 2025-26. 

All things considered, I do expect that Clayden will be one of those that may be moved on during the summer as Boreham Wood look to freshen up and strengthen their squad and so Clayden may be available on a free transfer. 

In terms of his profile, Clayden is predominantly a winger. Capable of slotting in anywhere down the left-hand side of the pitch. Technically strong. A capable dribbler. Good delivery from wide. A wand of a left-foot. A good ball-carrier. He offers this Tinners team something that they have missed in terms of the engine and the speed to be able to carry the ball direct to goal, and commit players. Too much of their attacking play has been reliant on going direct in the build-up and going long, but having that player who can get the ball down and progress through the thirds is incredibly useful. 

The youngster is out of the Charlton Athletic academy, and so has been really well coached and has a good technical grounding. He has since worked with two top coaches in the form of Luke Garrard and Stuart Maynard. He has definitely made real progress in the last 12-18 months having been a bit of a fringe player in their promotion campaign. Albeit, he is still not a guaranteed starter and has made most of his appearances fleetingly off the bench. 

He is 25 years of age and has good experience playing higher than the level that The Tinners are at next term, and so represents the type of profile that I think they should be signing. Clayden definitely has a point to prove and I feel that the challenge of going into a new environment and one in which he may be able to hold down a first-team berth as a starter might be the opportunity that he needs at this stage of his career. Regular minutes. A chance to hold down a position as his own. It would be a drop down for him to join City, yet I believe it could be a good option for him to consider.

Aaron Jarvis (Yeovil Town – free)

While Tyler Harvey remains on the books with City, the 30-year-old has had a tricky campaign with injuries. I still expect that he will be kept on and made a key part of their side next year, but I do feel that there is reason to suggest that finding an alternative to him that can lead the line – as well as play alongside him at times – would be hugely beneficial. 

Aaron Jarvis finishes the season with National League Yeovil Town, albeit I think that it is fair to say that it has been a tricky campaign for the Glovers forward. The 28-year-old has only scored three times, and so with The Glovers likely to freshen up the forward line then I’m expecting him to be one of the casualties that are allowed to leave. 

In terms of the profile that The Tinners are looking for, however, I actually think Aaron Jarvis could be a good option. At Yeovil Town, the onus was solely on Jarvis to provide that goal-scoring threat as well as having the burden of leading the line. His biggest strengths have been in his aggression and combative edge against the opposition backline and in making it difficult for players, and as a replacement for Tyler Harvey this is where I feel he could be a useful option to consider. 

He is an aggressive presser, physically strong, combative, a selfless runner in doing the hard yards for the team, and the type of player who never gets the plaudits for their off-the-ball work by way of their output yet who I think has their value in the side. I haven’t seen many better athletes or harder working forwards at the level than Jarvis, and in injecting some energy to the forward line and a willingness to run the channels then I think he would be worth a look. 

When they won the National League South, while Tyler Harvey did get a goal return it was his qualities with his back-to-goal, occupying defenders, making life tough for the opposition and bringing others into play that was equally – and arguably more so – important for the way the team functioned. In Harvey’s absence, City have missed that player of the requisite profile who can be that ‘bully’ at the top end of the pitch. A platform. Someone who can bring others into the game. Slightly unpolished, but unorthodox and difficult to play against. Offer that physicality. This is something that Jarvis can offer. 

After having a poor campaign with Yeovil Town, I think that there has to be a sense of reality from Jarvis as to where his next move may be. If he is going to go and play regularly off the back of it, I feel that we may see him drop into the National League South for a side ambitious of being at the top end of the division as The Tinners will set out to be.

Callum Morton (Worthing – free)

The final player that I have picked out in this piece for The Tinners to sign is Callum Morton. He is currently at Worthing, having only signed a short-term deal until the end of the campaign with The Rebels. 

When Truro City won promotion out of the National League South, I felt that one of their biggest strengths was that energy and running at the top end of the pitch. Jaze Kabia being the key architect of that. A willingness to run, press, harry defenders and always on the move. In this regard, I think that Morton represents a good fit. 

At his best, Morton is the nippy, diminutive, hassling type that is always trying to force turnovers. At his most effective when playing off a more physical #9 and getting on the end of knock-downs and running in beyond the play. He was superb when he was at Northampton Town in being able to get on the end of loose balls and in pressing from the front, and I feel these are the skillsets which The Tinners have missed in the forward line. 

He is a good athlete, and has got an infectious work-rate for the team. Incredibly selfless. Perhaps more of a facilitator in terms of his work off-the-ball, I do feel that he has a nice all-round profile for a #9. He has the speed, the agility, the movement and the low centre of gravity to be that more intricate type off the shoulder. Equally, he is perhaps surprisingly aggressive and industrious in his work and so can receive the ball into feet. After an injury lay-off, I feel that he will be eager to prove himself and grasp an opportunity that comes his way. 

He is currently on the books at National League South side Worthing, albeit given that The Rebels have got a lot of options at their disposal with the likes of Makowski, Dolaghan and Coleman De-Graft to call upon. I expect them to freshen up the forward line in the summer in any event, and so I think that Morton may well be one that is allowed to depart the football club on a free transfer. Morton is from the South West and so in the event that he is let go, I feel he could be a realistic option for The Tinners to look at.