Additions Scarborough Athletic should make in the summer

After another season that promised so much, The Seadogs have once again fallen short of the National League North play-offs.

They fell short of the top seven last season, and with one game left to go in the regular National League North campaign, Scarborough Athletic sit 12th and eight points off the play-off places.

Next season, Jonathan Greening will be looking to bridge the gap on the play-offs and try to push for promotion after having now firmly established themselves in the sixth tier.

With that in mind, I look at some signings that The Seadogs should make during the summer and suggest how Scarborough Athletic may lineup going into next year.

Tai Fleming (Banbury United – free)

The Seadogs – I feel – have to add another right-sided option at the back in the summer, to support and challenge Kieran Weledji. One player who I think could be of interest – and available given the plight of his side this term – is Banbury United’s Tai Fleming.

Fleming is someone who – despite Banbury United’s struggles – I have been impressed with; I think there is a good chance that he remains at Step Two even if United are on their way out. The former Yeovil Town academy graduate has now a good amount of experience under his belt in the National League North and has also played in the National League for King’s Lynn Town.

Greening has tended to make use of a smaller squad, with an emphasis on reliably-fit, adaptable defenders, and I feel that the addition of someone like Tai Fleming would be perfect for what The Seadogs need; primarily, in giving them an option right across the backline.  

By trade, Fleming is a centre-back, but he has experience of playing at right-back before while his composure on the ball and technical quality off either foot means that he can quite easily do a job on the left if required. Fleming would be coming in as an option challenging both right centre-back and full-back, while offering support to both and the ability to slot in where needed.

He is still only 21 years of age, and so there is lots of room for his development, too. He spent time with Norwich City – an academy with a strong track record – and also at Yeovil Town. Good on the ball, a diligent 1-on-1 defender, with a good reading of the game and a decent recovery pace, he ticks a lot of boxes.

Jassem Sukar (Darlington – free)

One player who will no doubt be on Greening’s wish list this summer, and one who I think is highly attainable for The Seadogs, is Darlington defender Jassem Sukar.

Sukar has spent part of the campaign on loan with Scarborough Athletic, and given the upturn in fortunes of Darlington under Steve Watson and their apparent lack of necessity for the former Hull City man, I am expecting that he will be allowed to depart the club on a permanent basis during the close season. If that is the case, it makes sense for The Seadogs to position themselves near the front of the queue.

Despite seemingly not being in demand by Darlington, I maintain the view that Sukar is a capable defender at National League North level. Physically, he has all the attributes you want in terms of size, aerial ability and aggression. He is fairly comfortable with the ball, is a good athlete and with his comfortability at playing anywhere on the left side of defence I think he could be a real asset.

Sukar has a good degree of National League North experience under his belt, and he is still only 27 years of age. He has been more like the Jassem Sukar of old since his move to Scarborough Athletic and on his day he is still one of the better left-sided defenders in the division. He has good pedigree in coming through at Hull City and Sunderland, and I’d be pushing for his return on a permanent basis.

Dylan Mottley-Henry (South Shields – free)

One thing that I think Scarborough Athletic need to add in the close season is pace and direct running. A player who has perhaps not hit the heights that he is capable of this term, but one whom I retain confidence in of his abilities and feel he could be a smart addition for The Seadogs is Dylan Mottley-Henry.

Mottley-Henry is on the books of South Shields, but has found minutes at his parent club hard to come by this term; indeed, he has spent time out on loan at National League North outfit Buxton. Given how well South Shields have done this term, the chances are that Mottley-Henry will be let go at the end of the current season and as such may be available on a free. In terms of the profile that Greening may want to add to his side – quick, direct, a capable dribbler, and right-sided – I think that Dylan Mottley-Henry could tick a lot of boxes.

The winger showed last year in helping South Shields in getting promoted to the National League North that he is capable of being more than just a quick player, but has a more complete game in providing an outlet for his side in behind, can take on players, but also have decent end product; indeed, he scored 13 goals in 45 games for Shields last term.

Tom Walker (AFC Fylde – free)

The next player on this list is another left winger – at least by trade – for The Seadogs, but a player who I think can be utilised in a number of ways and in different systems is Tom Walker. Currently on the books of National League side AFC Fylde and one who is unlikely to be kept on by Chris Beech at the end of the season, I anticipate that Walker will be available and as such should be of consideration to Scarborough Athletic.

Walker has spent much of his career in non-league, with a number of sides including Salford City, AFC Fylde and Harrogate Town. One of the benefits that Tom Walker provides for The Seadogs as they look to try and finish in the play-offs and upwards next year is that Walker has extensive experience of being in and around sides with success. He won promotion with Salford City in 2018-19; got into the play-offs with Stockport County in 2020-21; and also spent time that same season with Notts County. He also – of course – got promoted with AFC Fylde last year. As such, he knows how to compete in and around the top spots.

In terms of how he can be used in this Seadogs side, the majority of his career has seen him used out wide off the left. However, he has been shown to play in different roles – at wing-back and as an out-and-out winger – and the one which I think he could play for The Seadogs and provide value is in behind the front man. Walker is a player who I have always thought is tricky, has a good range of passing, a cultured left foot, has a nice appreciation for the weight of passes and has good vision; in a more central role with ability to get on the ball, I think he could thrive.

Brad Dockerty (unattached – free)

A potential avenue that Scarborough Athletic could look to utilise during the close season is looking at players in a lower league that are capable of making the step up and want to grasp the opportunity of National League North. If they do go down that route, I’d consider going in for former Bradford Park Avenue attacker Brad Dockerty.

Dockerty knows the National League North from his time spent in the sixth tier with Bradford Park Avenue, and so he would be able to adjust quickly upon stepping up. Indeed, when he was in the National League North last, Dockerty quickly showed himself to be a talented player. Given Bradford Park Avenue’s relegation from the National League North, it was perhaps surprising to not see a side come in for him during last summer.

The former Alfreton Town man remained with Bradford Park Avenue going into this year, but he departed the club by mutual consent in March 2024; thus, he is available on a free. He has not featured regularly for Bradford Park Avenue in the second-half of this campaign, hence the reason for his recent departure, however I think that there is a still a capable player there and without the pressure of being a guaranteed starter for The Seadogs – instead, being a squad player and extra attacking option – I feel he may be worth a look.

Dockerty is a winger by trade, capable off of either flank. There is something about Dockerty that I feel would be of real interest to a top coach like Greening. He has had trials with Rotherham United, done well at the National League North before, and come through at lowly non-league side Hemsworth MW; there is a talented player there.

Alongside Dylan Mottley-Henry, that would create a good pool of wide talent for The Seadogs in Tear, Green and Dockerty himself. Especially if Green departs amid the high level of interest he has garnered during this term, Dockerty would be a useful addition. He is still only 27 years of age and so should be hitting his peak powers, and if utilised rightly then I think Greening – a coach who has shown himself as being capable of improving players – be the one to get the most out of the former Alfreton Town man.

Caolan Lavery (Doncaster Rovers – free)

One thing that Scarborough Athletic must add during the summer is goals. At times this year, you could have mistaken The Seadogs for playing their own version of the show “Blankety Blankety” – blank after blank after blank. If they’re going to finish in the top seven, they need to add a goal-scorer; and not a 5-10-goal scorer, but a 15-20-goal scorer.

One player that I think Jonathan Greening may be able to attract to the club who I feel could fit the bill of being capable of a high-teens, early-twenties return in terms of goals is Doncaster Rovers front man Caolan Lavery. Lavery signed a deal with the League Two outfit earlier in the season, albeit has found minutes hard to come by at The Keepmoat Stadium. And, given the winning formula that Grant McCann has been able to find, the chances of him being re-integrated back into the eleven next year (especially if they are in League One) is slim.

There comes a time with every player – especially those in the Football League – when you have to look at all things considered and come to the conclusion about whether it is time to perhaps drop down a level and be a big fish in a small pond, and given the successful career that Lavery has forged in the Football League and that he is now in his 30’s, I wonder whether dropping down into the National League North and being a marquee player to try and help a side climb up the leagues may be an option that motivates him. I certainly feel there are a lot of plaudits, and in terms of regular minutes, a move to The Seadogs is more favourable.

Lavery provides experience and nous at the top end of the pitch, with an EFL career spanning 12 years since his break through in 2012. He has never been a prolific forward, albeit he has shown in a poor Scunthorpe United side in 2022-23 what he is capable with a return of 8 goals in just 18 appearances for The Iron. At a lower level, retained players Harry Green and Dom Tear in support, and a range of new additions in the final third creating opportunities, I feel he could flourish.

Cameron Wilson (Scunthorpe United – free)

The second player on this list that would be making a permanent return to Scarborough Athletic if they were to sign for The Seadogs this summer is Scunthorpe United attacking player Cameron Wilson.

Wilson burst onto the scene last year with parent club Scunthorpe United in their relegation out of the National League, one of very few highlights in an otherwise drab season. Indeed, his form for The Iron was sufficient for him to be called up to the England C squad and he was talked up as being the next big thing; It is perhaps surprising, therefore, that Wilson has struggled for minutes with United this term, and the general consensus heading into the summer is that he could fall victim to The Iron’s desires to return to Step 1.

It has been clear this year that Wilson does not form part of Jimmy Dean’s plans at Glanford Park, and so I am fully expecting Wilson to depart this summer. If that is the case, I would imagine that after spending time with The Seadogs this term, Greening’s side would – or at least could – be near the front of the queue to re-sign him.

Cameron Wilson is a versatile attacking player, capable of playing through the middle, as an attacking midfielder or indeed wide off the right flank. He is now in his second spell with Scarborough Athletic, and if The Iron are indeed promoted – and even if they aren’t – this summer represents the best time for him to move on and sign permanently.

Will Davies (York City – loan)

The final player on this list is Will Davies. Signed by York City on a permanent, long-term deal earlier in the campaign, Davies is currently out on loan away from the club and I think there is a realistic chance that Davies will be allowed to leave – be it on loan or permanently – during the summer. As such, the Minstermen front man could well of interest to The Seadogs.

Davies is a player that I like, but for whatever reason he hasn’t been the “flavour of the month” since signing for The Minstermen. He got a couple of goals in a Minstermen shirt, and yet at the first sign of trouble for York City he has been shipped out and loaned to Bromley. Andy Woodman often has a good eye for signing players, and so if he rates Davies enough to give him a deal then that is a relatively good sign.

The striker offers something a little bit different for The Seadogs in being able to make runs in behind and play on the shoulder. He has shown time and time again that he is a goal scorer, with a prolific spell at Leiston, a decent return at Braintree Town prior to his move to the LNER and even in the little we have seen of him in a City shirt he has helped himself to five goals.

I’d personally keep him in and around the York City squad going forward as I feel there is a talented player there, but when the going got tough and York City needed to make some tough decisions, he was one of the first players to pay for that with a departure. Under a top coach in Greening, the 24-year-old would – I feel – excel.