Who should AFC Fylde sign during the summer?

After a tricky first-half of the campaign, it looks as if – touch wood – that The Coasters are home and hosed in their first season upon their return to the fifth tier.

It may have taken a while for The Coasters to show it on the field, one thing that they have done well this year is in the recruitment department, with a number of their signings have turned out to be successful operators for AFC Fylde; the most notable being Jonathan Ustabasi. And, if they are to build on the strength of their second-half to the campaign and subsequent mid-table finish, they will once again next to recruit well.

With that in mind, I take a look at some targets that they could try and sign in the summer.

Backup Goalkeeper – Jacob Chapman (free)

Theo Richardson will likely remain the first-choice goalkeeper for The Coasters next season, but they will need to go and add a backup goalkeeper with Chris Neal likely to depart. One player who I think could be of interest to AFC Fylde is Huddersfield Town player Jacob Chapman.

Recruiting a backup goalkeeper is always a tricky challenge, given that they need to try and find a goalkeeper who is perhaps not quite ready to be a number one every week, but at the same time is more than capable of playing in the National League in the event that they are called upon. To that extent, I think that the Terriers youngster is of that profile.

On the books of Championship side Huddersfield Town, Chapman has some first-hand experience of the National League in his loan this term with Rochdale and prior to that with Gateshead. While he hasn’t played extensively with Dale, he played North of 20 games with The Heed and I think it will give him an appreciation for the fifth tier and ensure that if he is called upon then it isn’t going to be a daunting prospect like if they were to perhaps opt for a more youthful option.

Chapman is now 23 years of age, but he has yet to really knuckle down and settle anywhere. I think working underneath one of the best goalkeepers in the National League in Theo Richardson – and potentially alongside Chris Neal in the event he remains a part of the club going forward – could be the positive environment around him he needs to aid his development.

First Choice Right-Back – Arkell Jude-Boyd (loan)

Chris Beech has set up his AFC Fylde side so that the full-backs are attacking and aggressive in their play to get high up the pitch and contribute in the final third. One player who I think will be available for a National League loan and who I feel ticks every box when it comes to the profile of full-back that Chris Beech wants is defender Arkell Jude-Boyd.

Jude-Boyd is at Queens Park Rangers academy, and has spent the back-end of the campaign with National League South side Torquay United. He has been the pick of the players for The Gulls and has more than shown – I feel – that he is a player more than capable of playing at a higher level. I would go as far as to say that he could play in the Football League.

The fact that he has spent this season in the sixth tier may work in AFC Fylde’s favour in being able to manoeuvre a loan move for Jude-Boyd from the selling point of it being a higher level for him. Indeed, he does have experience of the fifth tier from a loan spell at Dagenham and Redbridge and so is no stranger to the level; thus, enabling him to adjust quickly to the level.

In terms of what type of player he is, Jude-Boyd is an athletic, powerful and lung-busting full-back who is positive in possession, always looking to take the game to the opposition and direct. He carries the ball well, is aggressive in the way he defends and has shown at Torquay United that he is versatile enough to play on either side; albeit, I feel is better-suited on the right. He has an eye for a goal, too, and so is the modern-day full-back; perfect for this Chris Beech side.

First Choice Left-Back – Scott Tanser (free)

When suggesting potential players in articles such as this, I am always looking for former players that perhaps have links to the manager; going back to players they know is a logical suggestion. With The Coasters in need of a new left-back, I think that they should look North to Scotland and sign experienced campaigner Scott Tanser.

Tanser is one that Chris Beech will know well, with the defender having spent time at Rochdale when Beech was assistant. The Coasters have had a younger option at left-back this term in the form of Max Conway, but Tanser represents a more experienced option and perhaps the more gritty, intelligent and battle-hardened player that they need to be competitive at the top end of this league.

He is 29 years of age and has made just North of 250 games in his professional career, and so has certainly been there, done it and got the T-Shirt. He has spent the last few years North of the border in Scotland, winning two cups with St Johnstone and now has seven campaigns in the Scottish Premiership under his belt. In terms of providing Beech with a reliable operator that he can trust, Tanser certainly ticks that box.

In terms of what type of left-back Tanser is stylistically, he is well-aligned with the AFC Fylde way of playing under Beech of being bold and brave with the ball. Tanser is an attacking full-back, who operates almost as a wing-back or winger in possession, and is always looking to get up on the overlap, keep the width and get good delivery into the box. A lovely wand of a left foot, a good passing range and always positive.

He is a Blackpool boy at heart, and so a move closer to home under a coach that he is well-accustomed to is an option that I think will be hugely attractive for him. At 29, now might be the time to take a new opportunity and being part of an AFC Fylde side aiming to push for the top-half and beyond could well be up his street.

Defensive Midfielder – Liam Coyle (free)

One area that was highlighted as being a position that The Coasters need to strengthen during the summer is holding midfield. One player who I think that they should look at is Accrington Stanley’s Liam Coyle.

Coyle is out of contract at the end of the season, and so is available for a free for The Coasters. He offers experience of playing at a higher level and has been in and around an Accrington Stanley that have been well-coached under John Coleman; thus, there is a suitable level of confidence that Coyle is more than capable of handling the technical, physical and positional attributes you look for.

He has come through the academy setup at Accrington Stanley, albeit as they look to shake things up in the summer and perhaps not one of the bigger hitters financially in League Two, Coyle may be plucked off by other teams; as such, I would try and position myself at the front of the queue if I was Chris Beech.

Coyle is first and foremost a defensive midfielder, one who is committed, hard-working, rarely shies away from a tackle and screens the back four well. He is combative and energetic, but also couples that with being a technically strong midfielder with a neat range of passing. He has only managed a total of eight league appearances this term and so he may well be moved on, and with his availability known, I think The Coasters would benefit from adding him into the middle of the park.

Striker – Jake Bickerstaff (loan)

The Coasters will hope they can keep hold of Danny Ormerod in the summer, and even if they do then they need to add another striker as at times they have missed that out-and-out threat at the top end of the pitch; their top scoring striker has only seven (Ormerod). As such, I think that they should add some firepower and work a loan move for young forward Jake Bickerstaff.

Bickerstaff is currently on the books of League Two side Wrexham, and has spent the second-half of the campaign on loan at Accrington Stanley. He has perhaps not the heights that he would have hoped for, and he will return to his parent club likely still with room for development. With The Red Dragons on their way to League One, I don’t see Bickerstaff getting those opportunities of first-team minutes with Parkinson’s side.

As such, I think that a move to Mill Farm could well be a good fit for him. He featured sparingly in the National League when Wrexham won the fifth tier, and so he is no stranger to playing in the division. However, when I have seen him play, I have been impressed. 3 goals in 3 games for Wrexham in 2022-23 and two prolific spells with lower-ranked side Caernarfon Town and Nantwich Town; there are signs there of a player who knows where the back of the net is.

Wide Player #1 – Cian Hayes (free)

AFC Fylde will feel that after a strong second-half of the campaign to ensure their status in the National League, the aim next season is to push on and try to stake a claim for the play-offs or at the very least a top-half finish. If they are going to do that, they will need to go out and announce a statement signing or two to take them to the next level, and so I think that they should make the move for winger Cian Hayes.

Hayes has spent this season on loan at National League side Rochdale, on loan from League One side Fleetwood Town. He has proven himself to be a tricky, technical and skilful wide player who is direct, effervescent and a composed dribbler. His stock is suitably high after impressing with Dale, and so the fact that he is out of contract at the end of the season at his parent club will come as music to the ears of many.

You would imagine that after a successful season with Jim McNulty’s side, Dale will make a move to re-sign him during the summer; that would certainly have a lot of sense to it. However, the Preston-born wide player could well favour a move closer to home and so signing for The Coasters and remaining at home in Lancashire could well be a proposition that is more appealing for the youngster.

Wide Player #2 – Billy Whitehouse (free)

The last player on my list is Billy Whitehouse. He is a player who doesn’t often get talked about – certainly not enough for my liking – and I think that he is a super player. The Coasters will be hoping they can get success out of this transfer as they did out of their last foray into the National League North to sign another player from Chorley (as they did Jonathan Ustabasi).

Whitehouse is formerly of Yorkshire side Leeds United, and has had a rather intriguing route into the National League North. Indeed, he started out as a youth player with Doncaster Rovers, before being plucked by The Whites and after failing to breakthrough into the first-team at Elland Road dropped back down into non-league with spells at Shaw Lane and Tadcaster Albion. More recently, he has then played in the Welsh Premier League with The New Saints. However, since 2021, Whitehouse has been playing for Chorley and I maintain my view that he is a good player.

One of the benefits – albeit perhaps has been his downfall – is the fact he can play a number of roles and has not quite been able to hold down just the single position. He can as a winger, more centrally in midfield and has been used as a full-back; I feel his best position is as a right-winger when he can come in off the flank.

In terms of what type of player he is, Whitehouse is described as a bit of a flair player with good footwork, trickery, the ability to dribble past well and he is a confident ball-carrier. He is technically very strong, gets good delivery into the box and if he is going to be a backup to Jonathan Ustabasi then I think he is perfect. He can rotate into a full-back in transition to allow his full-back to get up the pitch, and so stylistically he is ideal for what Beech wants to implement, too.