Who do Boreham Wood go and sign in the summer?

Boreham Wood are back in the National League South next season.

Under new boss Ross Jenkins, they will be looking to bounce back at the first time of asking.

They have retained a decent core of players that have served them well in previous campaigns, but the squad is still in need of some work.

I take a look at where they could strengthen, and identify some possible signings that they could make.

Lee Hodson

If ever there was a more perfect signing for Boreham Wood under new boss Ross Jenkins, Lee Hudson ticks every box.

Hudson was born in Boreham Wood, and so in terms of geography and being a local option for Ross Jenkins, The Spitfires player is perfect. I am a massive advocate for putting together a side that has a strong connection to the club and that has a genuine care to do want to do well; the opportunity to help Boreham Wood achieve an immediate return to the fifth tier and successful again is perhaps an opportunity too big for him to turn down. Regardless, it is – I feel – the sort of signing they should be making.

He is a versatile operator; indeed, capable of playing at full-back on either side or as a winger and also in midfield. He covers a lot of bases and gives Ross Jenkins the ability to play various different systems. He has experience of playing at a higher level, and is someone that Jenkins knows; Hudson was on the books of Watford when Jenkins was at Vicarage Road as a player, alongside Wood’s assistant Lloyd Doyley. That could be the key relationship that could work such a deal.

Granted, Hudson is under contract with National League side Eastleigh, but Wood owner Danny Hunter has shown to back his managers strongly and so it wouldn’t surprise me if he were to provide Jenkins the backing to go and add the experienced defender to his ranks. I am not wholly convinced that he will be used regularly by The Spitfires, and so a move to a new club may be worthwhile.

Adam Thompson

The next player that I think Boreham Wood should make the move for during the summer is Adam Thompson. Released by League One outfit Leyton Orient at the end of the campaign, I feel that he will likely have to drop out of the fifth tier if he is to get another contract and so if that is the case, joining the Wood Army would make a whole lot of sense.

This suggestion is made very much with the idea that Thompson may not be a guaranteed starter, but indeed more so a squad player. Regardless, he is another player that Jenkins knows; Thompson was in the Watford youth side whilst Ross Jenkins and Lloyd Doyley were at the football club, and so there is a previous between the three upon which they could draw to facilitate the deal.

The Harlow-born defender is now 31 years of age and so he gives Boreham Wood some added experience which will be invaluable in trying to win an immediate return to the fifth tier next year. He has a good track record with experience at a higher level and has also represented Northern Ireland at international level, and so is a wise head that will only enhance the core of leadership within the Boreham Wood squad.

Thompson is more than capable with the ball at his feet and is a diligent and robust defender. One thing that he does give Boreham Wood is the adage of a player who would be a coup for the National League South, but then at the same time someone who can handle the step up into the National League in the event that they are promoted; that is the sort of player they should be looking to sign.

Zac McEachran

One thing that Ross Jenkins has made abundantly clear in the short time he has been at Boreham Wood is the fact that he is going to try his upmost to play a progressive, possession-based style; thus, they need to sign the type of players needed to implement such change. One player that I think they should make a move for in the close season is Oxford City midfielder Zach McEachran.

The Hoops were relegated out of the fifth tier, however McEachran was one that impressed in part for Oxford City with flashes of technical brilliance, an appreciation for the weight of pass in the final third, creativity and a decent range of passing, good vision, and the individual skill and invention with the ball to be able to open up the toughest of defences. He certainly gives The Wood a more progressive and forward-thinking option with the ball to what they have at their current disposal.

McEachran is no stranger to Ross Jenkins, having worked under him during their time together at Oxford City, and so provides Jenkins with familiarity in being able to implement his philosophy. Oxford City were relegated out of the National League and have subsequently been moved into the Northern variety of the National League’s basement tiers, and so with The Hoops a part-time outfit, McEachran may not want to the added travelling that will be coming their way in the 2024-25 campaign.

As such, I think that this summer represents the perfect opportunity for him to go and get a full-time move; where better to do so than with a Boreham Wood side looking to get out of the National League South at the first time of asking. McEachran has got promoted out of the league before, knows Ross Jenkins well, and would give Boreham Wood a top-end, National League South performer. He ticks a lot of boxes for what they want and need this term.

Tommy Willard

I am not wholly sure on what system Ross Jenkins will look to play next season – be it a more conventional and familiar 3-at-the-back that Boreham Wood have played in the past – or switch to a four. As such, signing players that are versatile and able to play in different systems is useful, and I think that they should look to try and sign former Aldershot Town man Tommy Willard.

The youngster will certainly be in high demand having spent successful loan spells out in the National League South with Worthing and Farnborough, and so does have previous experience of playing in the division. He was recalled by his parent club Aldershot Town for the second-half of the campaign in the season just gone, and while he wasn’t a prominent figure for Widdrington’s men he still played a lot of minutes for a Shots side that had a successful season with their cup exploits and near-play-off qualification.

Willard is a winger by trade, but showed the intelligence and selfless work ethic to be able to fill in as a wing-back or as a central midfielder on occasions last term with The Shots; as such, he has both familiarity and the skillsets required to play in various roles.

What I like about him which would particularly important for this Wood side and for the style of football that Ross Jenkins wants to play is his energy off the ball. He is an infectious personality with his hard-working style. He is constantly closing players down, trying to win the ball back, and then when he has it is driving at the opposition, committing players with good footwork and dribbling ability, and is always on the move. There will be offers from other clubs, but I think he should sign for Boreham Wood.

Rafferty Pedder

Boreham Wood need to focus on strengthen their midfield – I feel – during the summer and so one option that I feel they could look at that who would be a more than capable operator for the National League South and then beyond that if they are promoted back to the National League is former QPR youngster Rafferty Pedder.

The news of Pedder’s release from Queens Park Rangers did come as a bit of a surprise to those of a Hoops persuasion, with the youngster having been tipped as someone that could potentially break through into the first-team or at the very least one who is able to be a useful player within the first-team environment of an EFL side. Indeed, The Hoops have got rid of a number of players this summer who I feel they may regret losing out on, and so Pedder is one to go for.

In terms of what the midfielder can bring to the table, Pedder is an attacking midfielder with good pedigree – having come through with QPR and prior to that with Tottenham Hotspur – and is an energetic, capable ball-carrier with balletic dribbling ability, good feet, a decent strike on him and the sort of player that is able to arrive late into the box and score goals. He hasn’t had a great deal of first-team exposure, but Pedder did spend time out on loan at Oxford City under Ross Jenkins; thus, this is another that makes sense with the previous connections.

Boreham Wood are in need of some energy and legs to their midfield to be able to get about the pitch, and the hard-working, energetic presence of a player like Rafferty Pedder is just what they need. He definitely has talent and buys into the philosophy of putting together a side capable of playing the game in the right way; I think he is worth a look.

Josh Parker

The final player on this list is one that I think is a rather ambitious option for Boreham Wood; Oxford City front man Josh Parker.

Parker comes off the back of a strong individual season with Oxford City whereby he was able to produce an impressive return (14 goals) in a side that struggled throughout the campaign. Indeed, that return for The Hoops has seen him get into the double figures for goals two successive seasons on the trot despite having failed to do so for the five campaigns previous to that.

I would go as far as to say that Parker is in the form of his career playing for The Hoops – and more directly when playing under the guidance of Jenkins – and so having clearly enjoyed his football so much under the former City man, I wouldn’t be wholly surprised to see him make a return for his services this summer. Parker is the perfect balance between being able to put himself about as a robust, physical presence, but then also has the pace to be able to run in behind.

The Queens Park Rangers academy product is now 33 years of age and won’t want to be relocating or doing the lengths of travelling that he will have to do with Oxford City next term. The majority of his career has been based in and around the London area, and so I don’t foresee him wanting to make a change at this point; thus, I fully expect him to try and find a new challenge which enables him to remain fairly local to his London roots.

As mentioned earlier, Danny Hunter has always been the type to provide a good level of backing to his managers. I think that if Boreham Wood are to make an immediate return to the National League then they are going to have to go out and strengthen really well in the summer – with the odd coup or marquee signing in there that is better than the level – and Parker would almost certainly provide that.