Who should Chris Millington sign in the summer?

It is going to be another important summer for FC Halifax Town manager Chris Millington.

He is used to having to make up for a number of player exits, and this summer is no different, with a handful of key performers having already left the club so far. Namely, right-back Tyler Golden, centre-back Jamie Stott, as well as midfielder Jack Hunter.

Further departures are also likely, with Kane Thompson-Sommers the subject of interest from elsewhere.

As such, Chris Millington will need to replace them smartly if they are to have a repeat of the play-off finish that they achieved in the 2023-24 campaign. With that in mind, I take a look at areas where they need to strengthen and identify some possible players they could consider signing.

Right-Back – Charlie O’Connell (Peterborough United)

The first position that The Shaymen will need to focus efforts this summer is at right-back. The usually ever-reliable Taylor Golden departed the club at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, and so they need a new right-back. An option that is available and who I feel would be a useful acquisition for Town is Peterborough United right-back Charlie O’Connell.

The youngster is still under contract with The Posh, but at the end of the season it was announced that Charlie O’Connell was made available for transfer. And, while The Shaymen may not have the wealth of finances to be able to go and make a big offer for the defender, I think that given O’Connell’s personal want to go and find regular first-team minutes and an opportunity away from London Road, I feel that he may well be interested in trying to navigate a mutual contract termination to facilitate such deal.

One of the benefits of signing a player like Charlie O’Connell is that he is a hugely versatile player, one capable of being deployed as a full-back or further forward in midfield; for what will likely be one of the smaller squads in the fifth tier, the ability for O’Connell to play various positions makes him a useful addition and is value for money. He is competent with the ball at his feet and perhaps provides The Shaymen with better attacking end product that Golden, all the while being a hugely committed and physical player that gets stuck in. I think he has talent, and under a top coach I feel he can thrive.

Centre-Back – Jordan Tunnicliffe (Wrexham)

The key area in their side which FC Halifax Town do need to strengthen in the summer is at centre-back, especially in wake of Jamie Stott’s departure from The Shay. I feel that they should push the boat out to bring in a centre-back of real quality, and so I think that they should do all they can to sign former Wrexham defender Jordan Tunnicliffe.

The Shaymen want to compete at the top end of the National League and have been in and around the play-offs under Chris Millington. Signing a player of the ilk of Jordan Tunnciliffe – an experienced centre-back with previous of having been promoted from the fifth tier with The Red Dragons – would be invaluable for The Shaymen in reinforcing the leadership group of the squad and in strengthening it with the characters that are needed to navigate the top seven again this year.

He comes off the back of a strong campaign with Wrexham whereby they won promotion out of League Two, and so he has a track record of success. He is perhaps not the quickest of defenders, but he is an out-and-out and committed type that is a strong box defender. He is competent in the air, is robust in the tackle, is physical and has all of the basic qualities that you want from a player going into a backline that – by design – relies on having purely no-nonsense and risk free defenders.

Having been on the books of a League Two side last season, this is going to be a coup for The Shaymen, but if they are to bring in a replacement that is of suitable quality as the departed Jamie Stott, I think that opting for a marquee addition like Tunnicliffe is ideal. He is capable with the ball at his feet, and in terms of creating a similarly strong defensive rearguard in 2024-25 to that which they have had in recent campaigns the Tunnicliffe is the prime candidate.

Holding Midfielder – Joe Ackroyd (Barnsley)

Chris Millington has – during his time with FC Halifax Town – opted for a model whereby he brings in younger and less tried-and-trusted options that they are going to develop over time. With Luke Summerfield and Jack Hunter leaving the club this summer, they need to bring in a defensive midfielder and so I would be looking at Joe Ackroyd.

Youngster Ackroyd was let go by League One outfit Barnsley at the end of the season, and had a strong individual campaign out on loan in the National League North with Buxton during 2022-23 iin which he made 23 appearances. In terms of the profile of player that Chris Millington tends to sign, Ackroyd is a good fit for that. He is young, has room to develop, is fresh out of an academy set-up and has game time in non-league under his belt. Millington has shown to have little regard for level, indeed finding players from the level below that are capable of the step-up (e.g. Thompson-Sommers last year and Pugh this year) and I think that Ackroyd may be a useful option to consider.

The former Tykes midfielder is a strong press-resistant player that has a good range of passing, aggressive without the ball and isn’t afraid to get stuck in with a tackle. He may only be 21 years of age, but he impressed during his time with Guiseley and at Buxton, and the opportunity of game time with The Shaymen is a logical next step.

Striker #1 – Jordan Slew (Morecambe)

After deciding to move on Rob Harker at the end of the 2023-24 season, I feel that The Shaymen need to bring in a striker that has size and physicality to give them a platform to build off in the final third. One player that I think Millington should consider signing on a free transfer is out-of-contract front man Jordan Slew.

Slew is someone that will be a familiar face to FC Halifax Town fans, with the forward having spent time at The Shay between 2021 and 2023 making a total of 56 appearances and scoring 12 goals in the process. Since departing The Shay, Slew has spent time playing int he Football League with Morecambe and he has impressed for The Shrimps as a well-rounded, versatile attacking outlet. His deal with Morecambe has come to an end this summer and he is yet to re-sign with the League Two side, and I think he would be a useful pickup for The Shaymen.

The former Town forward provides a more mobile and adaptable option for them under Chris Millington. At 31 years of age, he provides invaluable experience into a side that is otherwise youthful, with his ability to play off the left or drop deep making him a multi-faceted forward. He is a good size, can carry the ball, is a robust player, technically competent, hard-working and a good professional. He may not be the most prolific, but as an option to lead the line for The Shaymen, I think a return makes a lot of sense.

Striker #2 – Sol Solomon (Marine)

The final player on this list is one that has impressed in recent terms for Marine and Jersey Bulls; striker Sol Solomon. The striker opted to depart Marine ahead of the 2024-25 campaign and so is available on a free transfer, and despite the prolific batsman likely having a number of offers this summer, I think that The Shaman should make move the move for his services.

One thing that Chris Millington has done well in recent terms is to identify some players from the divisions below the National League that are capable of making the step-up into the fifth tier and grasp the opportunity of fifth tier football; Sol Solomon would likely jump at the chance of playing full-time and playing at the highest level that he has to date. Having been one of the most prolific marksmen outside of the National League division for some time, I think that he has more than merited his move up the ladder.

Solomon is only 23 years of age and so in terms of fitting into the profile that Chris Millington often tends to sign – younger players with a point to prove in the game and eager for a shot at full-time football – then I think Solomon ticks a lot of boxes. He is a tricky and diminutive front man that likes to play on the shoulders of defenders, make clever runs in behind and use his pace and nimble movement to stretch opposition defences.