2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Yeovil Town

Player Decisions

Retain

Joy Mukena, Jake Wannell, Luke McCormick, Ryan Jones, Brett McGavin, Josh Sims, James Daly, Matt Gould, Dan Ellison

Release

Alex Whittle, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Aaron Jarvis, Harvey Greenslade, Jonathon Page, Kyle Ferguson, Tahvon Campbell, Jacob Maddox, Charlie Cooper

Loan End

Jed Ward, Josh Tobin, Terrell Works, Dakarai Mafico, Troy Perritt, Will Merry, Millar Matthews-Lewis

Retained Squad

New Signings

Evan Watts (Swansea City – free)

Replacing Jed Ward is the major stumbling block for Billy Rowley; that no itself is no easy feat. A focus on signing a strong shot-stopper who is comfortable in playing out as part of the build-up. 

I think Evan Watts may be a viable option. A Welsh Under-21 international. Progressed out of a notoriously technically savvy Swansea City youth-team. Off the back of two strong loan spells in Ireland at Galway United. Now 21 years of age. For the sake of his own career, it may make sense long-term to identify a new permanent home in which he is capable of guaranteeing consistent first-team football, and as such Yeovil Town may be a credible destination at a decent level that can afford him such luxury of minutes. 

Stylistically, I feel Evan Watts shares quite a few traits with Ward. Technically comfortable. Mobile off his line. Fairly nimble as a shot-stopper and has good distribution. 

At the end of the day, I think that whoever they sign there is going to be a lot of scrutiny on them and the direct comparisons being made against Jed Ward. Ultimately, any signing they do make is likely not going to be as good as Ward, and so Town fans have got to bear that in mind. Instead, they need to focus on ensuring they identify a goalkeeper who can provide the skillsets Rowley wants. 

The Swans youngster has got an appreciation for playing out from the back, and so fits in the way that Billy Rowley wants his teams to play as a possession-based, risk-taking side. Watts is comfortable bypassing the press in the build-up phase and has been well-coached in a top academy, and so I feel that Town should pursue the City stopper as the new #1.

Bradley De Jesus (Fulham – free)

One area in which I think Yeovil Town will look to add in the off season is a versatile right-sided defender. Ideally, anywhere down the right-hand side, be it as a winger, wing-back, full-back or central defender. One player that I feel is worth consideration is young Fulham player Bradley De Jesus.

The defender is predominantly a right-back, but such is his speed and mobility I feel he is capable of playing as a wide centre-back. An ability to defend wide spaces. The young Fulham man is your ‘archetypal, modern-day full-back’. Incredibly forward-thinking. Direct. A great engine to drive from deep. Always looking to pick the ball up from deep, carry to goal, commit players and go for the ‘jugular’.

One thing I like about De Jesus is his versatility. I expect Town to maintain a smaller squad. Perhaps a focus on quality over quantity. Using the budget to get a higher stock of players. De Jesus can play as a full-back on both sides, as a winger, and so I feel that 

The yougnster is out of contract at the end of the campaign with Fulham, and Billy Rowley has got good relationships with The Cottagers. Rowley might be able to draw upon those connections in a navigating a potential deal for De Jesus. At the very least, obtain accurate reviews on the youngster’s qualities and suitability. 

He is 20 years of age, and so I feel that he could be a bit of a project for Town to work with. He has got a strong techncial background. Rowley has good connections with The Cottagers having signed a number of players from them previously, and so I feel he would be a good signing. 

Val Adedokun (Brentford – free)

Ryan Jones has played left wing-back under Billy Rowley. He is a highly technical attacking player, notably in lieu of standout physical attributes. As such, there is scope to add a more ‘up and down’ type wing-back during the off season. 

I like the look of Val Adedokun. A loan spell in the EFL with Cheltenham Town. Out of Brentford’s academy. Only 23 years of age and coming across to the UK aged 18, Adedkun signed from Irish side Dundalk. 

As a fit for the ‘traditional’ wing-back role, I feel Adedokun is a good fit. Blistering pace. High energy. A good athlete. Strong runner. As good as a winger with the ball. Good dribbler. Quick feet. Aggressive in his running from deep. 

Currently on the books of Brentford’s academy, Adedokun may well entertian the offer of a of going and getting himself a permanent deal elsewherere to go and play his football rather than trying to breakthrough into the first-team with Brentford. The chances of him getting a chance with The Bees is slim, and so I do expect he may depart this summer. 

One of the advantages of signing a more athletic option for that left wing-back role is that it would then allow Billy Rowley to potential use Ryan Jones as more of a #10. If The Glovers opt to use a 3-4-2-1 like they did last term with two #10’s in behind a striker, Adedokun could – in certain games – be deployed as the wing-back, and Jones put closer to goal. 

It would be a bit of a coup given that Adedokun’s last loan spell came with Cheltenham Town in the EFL, but I feel that he should be at the top of Yeovil Town’s list. 

Declan Skura (Wycombe Wanderers – free)

When Yeovil Town suffered the loss of Declan Skura towards the back end of the campaign, there was a notable downturn in defensive displays. So much so, I feel that a potential return for Skura will be at the top of the priorities for The Glovers in the summer. 

For playing in a back three, Skura showed that he was the archetypal fit for that system. Everything you want in a defender. Aggressive. Mobile and quick such that he can defend wide spaces. A strong box defender. Unusually comfortable on the ball for a player of his frame. He ticks a lot of the requisite boxes for the type of defensive acquisition The Glovers should be making. 

With a desire for tangible pathway to minutes in the first-team unlikely to fit with The Chairboys’ own lofty ambitions of challenging at the top end of League One, I think there is a realistic opportunity in which Wanderers permit Skura to depart the club on a permanent deal. The type of low-fee exit with The Chairboys retaining a sell-on percentage deal. I think that could interest both parties in this equation. Minutes in the National League for Skura. Retain a future interest for The Chairboys. 

It would be a major coup for The Glovers if they could re-sign Declan Skura, as he will have interest from teams that are in a better financial position than Town. However, if they could get him, I feel that would go a long way to addressing their defensive shortcomings. 

Devan Tanton (Fulham – free)

A second player that I’d look at out of Fulham’s academy as a prospective signing is Devan Tanton. 

Tanton is definitely a player that Billy Rowley will have knowledge, with Tanton having spent a brief loan spell with Rowley’s former side Walton and Hersham, and so it wouldn’t surprise me if Tanton reuntied with his former boss. 

To date, Tanton’s first-team exposure is limited to that period with The Swans as well as a loan spell with Chesterfield in League Two an played 18 times for The Spireites in all competitions, before returning to The Spireites midway through the campaign.

In terms of his profile, Tanton is a powerful, athletic defender that is quick, aggressive in his running and physicall strong. A nice mix of skillsets that make him suited to play as a wing-back. 

Personally, I feel that the youngster could be a capable fit for playing on the right of the back three with his speed and mobility, and is comfortable in defending wide spaces. An incredibly comfortable ball-player in playing out from the back. I think he would complement the other centre-back options quite nicely, and allow The Glovers to play a patient, possession-based, attacking side. 

Despite a loan in League Two, I think that he could be attainable for The Glovers. He is the type of defender that would be a coup for Town to land in the National League. 

Dennis Adeniran (Barnet – free)

One option that I feel The Glovers could look at as a potential option on the market is Barnet’s Dennis Adeniran. The midfielder has had a somewhat underwhelming season with The Bees, yet in terms of the profile that Town are looking for to complement the more technical types I think that he is worth consideration. 

He is limited technically, but he is a player you sign for the physical attributes. Physically imposing. A brilliant athlete as a box-to-box midfielder with the energy to get about the pitch. An industirous player who is committed and aggressive in the tackle. Slightly unorthodox to play against given that he has his long-legged, rangy tackles and physicality of his frame, but those are the skillsets Town need. 

I defiitely feel that there is value in this Town side to have that more robust midfield option to go alongside the more techical types of your McGavin’s and McCormick’s that is capable of winning the ball back, doing the ‘dirty work’ and perhaps being that little bit more unfashionable yet equally effective without the ball. 

Town are a side who rely on having the ball, and it is when they turn it over in transition they lack in central areas. Having that player of Adeniran’s physical profile and athleticism in pressing and turning over possesion would go a long way as to ensuring that Town’s midfield are set-up to be effective with and without the ball. If they can, I think they’ve got the techncial quality to go and win a game. 

After falling short with The Bees, I expect a) Dean Brennan to let him go at The Hive and b) Adeniran to drop into the National League for his next move. If he does, I feel Town should be at the front of the queue for his signature. He might not win many prizes for technique, but in terms of my old motto of ‘fit, form and function’ I think he does a job. 

Hakeem Sandah (Farnborough – free)

The one signing I am particularly keen for The Glovers to sign and a player that will certainly be Billy Rowley’s profile given the existing knowledge of the 21-year-old is Hakeem Sandah. 

Sandah comes off the back of a hugely impressive campaign for Farnbrough in which the youngster won the Player of the Year Award. He finishes with five goals and four assists to his name – and so by no means the most startling statistics – but in terms of his overall displays for Spencer Day’s side the former Colchester United academy prouct has stood out. 

As a profile, Sandah is an athletic, powerful, ball-carrying wide player with blistering pace, an aggressive ability to press and cover ground, and the trickery with his skill and close control to open teams up in a low block. He is a good dribbler, quick to get shots off, and is particualrly effective when spinning into the half-spaces and receiving the ball on the turn. 

He has been playing preodminantly off the right-hand side for Farnborough as a winger, albeit in a Rowley system that doesn’t use conventional wide players I’d expect to see him playing as one of the #10’s behind the striker. I actually feel this will get the best out of Sandah’s qualities. 

Playing as a #10, Sandah is able to receive the ball between the lines, and drive the ball to goal. By stepping in to receiving in these spaces, it causes the centre-backs to step in and engage and this in turn affords runners the room to get in beyond the play. If Sandah does get the ball under control in these areas, he can drive the ball to goal with his speed and power. 

He is a lovely attacking profile, and if Town can get him then I feel they’d be getting a player that in 12-18 months they can turn a profit from. 

Darren Oldaker (Swindon Town – free)

With Brett McGavin and Luke McCormick on the books, and Denis Adeniran a suggested signing, I feel that The Glovers have got room to add a deep-lying, ball-playing, #6. 

The benefit that I feel Town would have in signing Oldaker is that it would allow Rowley to use McGavin slightly closer to the opposition goal. As it is, he has had to be used as the holding midfielder. Yet, McGavin’s strengths are in his shooting and arriving on the edge of the box. Having a sitter in Oldaker would ope up McGavin to get higher. 

Oldaker is a hugely press-resistant midfielder with a nice range of passing, having been part of a Dorking Wanderers side that champion the use of a possession-based style, and part of a double-pivot in a high-flying Chesterfield side that won promotion. 

One of the major benefits that The Glovers would get in signing a player of Oldaker’s experience is that he knows how to be successful in the division, and is a leader. 

The majority of the signings in this list are of the early 20’s age profile, and so adding a player at the other ed of the age spectrum is invaluable. The experienced midfielder is out of contract at the end of the campaign with Swindon Town, and it remains to be seen as to whether he will be kept on. Having those one or two experienced faces in the side could be the difference in 2026-27, and so I feel Town should go all out to get it done. 

Ciaran McGuckin (Rotherham United – free)

Finding a consistent goal-scoring #9 has been The Glovers’ problem for much of the past 18 months. Their ceiling in 2026-27 will very much be dependent on their ability to identify the right option in the final third. They’ve had many ‘rolls of the dice’ so to speak, yet I think there is logic in a potential return for perhaps their biggest success of recent seasons in Ciaran McGuckin. 

Out of contract at relegated Rotherham United. Enjoyed a brief loan with Eastleigh in first part of 2025-26 before a season-ending knee injury. Back to full fitness and a summer behind him, I think he would definitely be worth the outlay from The Glovers. 22 years of age now. Regular minutes are key for his development. I think he needs to find a permanent home in lieu of repeated loan moves.  

I feel McGuckin represents a fairly all-round pick. The size and frame to lead the line. Nimble enough to run the channels and play off the shoulder. Intelligent to link the play. Shown up as being a fairly capable finisher in sides that are fairly poor at open-play creativity. In a better Glover side that creates a higher volume of chances, I feel he would get the service to be a success. 

Obvious question mark due to his injury, but I don’t attribute too much trepidation to that. A good age, decent experience, familiarity with The Glovers, and pitched at the right level for his development at this stage of his career. I think he should be the #1 pick.

Luke Skinner (Bristol City – loan)

With Rowley’s strong reputation as a coach, I expect to see The Glovers effectively utilise the loan market in supplementing permanent additions to the playing squad. Given their long-standing strong links with Bristol City, I feel that may be an avenue to exploit.

One player I would be looking at is youngster Luke Skinner. Exceptionally high stock in City circles. Already had exposure to Championship matchday squads. A few loans in non-league in 2025-26, notably Weston-super-Mare. I would recommend that a top-end leaning National League side is the right for him to  get the minutes he requires at this stage of his development, and so Yeovil Town may be a good option.

Stylistically, I feel Skinner offers The Glovers what they have been missing in front of goal. A bit of a cold-blooded killer as a finisher. Electric pace off the shoulder. Direct-to-goal running. High energy. Can play at speed. Quick touches of the ball. Maintains attacking momentum well. A fearless edge to his game to go for the jugular and take risk. A confidence and swagger in his finishing. An instinctive nose for sniffing out chances. 

Jamie Hedges maintains strong links with City’s academy. I think that Town can take advantage of that in attracting Skinner to Huish Park. They also have the benefit of training in Bristol, and so the geography works. 

Morgan Bates (Swansea City – loan)

The Glovers have flexed their muscle in the loan market under Billy Rowley, notably in signing young players out of top academies. Troy Perritt and Dakari Mafico – both joining from Cardiff City – as two of them. For the third piece of Town’s attacking puzzle, I think that Rowley should go to Cardiff City’s near neighbours and sign out of Swansea City. 

The player that has caught my eye is Morgan Bates. Incredibly highly-rated. Only 19 years of age. A player I’ve heard a lot of rave reviews about. He looks promising in the small sample size I have seen, with some good movement and excellent ball-striking coupled with a nice range of finishes.

In terms of his profile, Bates brings relentless energy, pressing and movement to the forward line. Quick, atheltic and full of running. Always looking to spin in behind, and play on the shoulder. An instinctive finisher. 

Rowley has high stock as far as being entrusted from top talent out of the Welsh academies, and so I feel if Bates does go out on loan then The Glovers might be a viable destination. Even if only – to begin with – it is a short-term loan until January.