Transfer News, Gossip & Speculation Transfer Thread - Summer 2025 Edition.

[bluesfansince1952]

Good at attacking bad at defending he wont get the same numbers he got for this season imo .

'he wont get the same numbers he got for this season imo .'

If any club disagreed with you he would have moved already.

 

[flangejackrabbit]

Anyone know if we’re in talks with any center half’s after losing Goodliffe and golding that’s gotta be a priority after the Bulgarian

Agreed, much needed. I would have liked to have been in for Eweka who has ended up at Eastleigh. I think Chin Okoli who was on loan at a couple of clubs in this division and has looked good is still available, and Francilette has been flagged as someone we should look at by a couple of people.

 

[Hampshire Shrimp]

I wonder where he is off to, sounds promising, right age and attitude. Very local club to me and they have just been promoted to NLS. One I hope we have run an eye over, John Still? Eastleigh maybe.

AFC TOTTON’S PLAY-OFF final-winning goal-scorer Ethan Taylor has decided to call time on his Snows Stadium tenure after more than 200 appearances for The Stags, who will be competing in the National League South in 2025/26.

The 24-year-old winger – whose father James played for the club from 2008 to 2010, and younger brother Leo was a regular in last season’s Under-23s team – was still a teenager when he made his AFC Totton debut in an FA Cup Preliminary Round tie at Binfield in September 2020. He made his Southern League Division One South bow at home to Bideford a fortnight later, and only had to wait another four days to score his first AFC Totton goal at Willand Rovers on 30 September 2020.

His pace on the wing, ability to pick-out teammates with pinpoint crosses and a keen eye for goal saw Taylor quickly establish himself as a first team regular during the second season to be disrupted by the COVID pandemic, before going on to become a firm fans’ favourite amongst the Snows Stadium faithful during one of the most consistently successful periods in the club’s entire history.

He contributed 23 goals across all competitions in the 2021/22 season, when The Stags finished just outside the Step 4 Play-Off places but lifted the Southampton Senior Cup for the first time in 40 years with a 3-0 win over Folland Sports in the St. Mary’s Stadium final, in which he was awarded Man of the Match.

Taylor certainly played his part during the all-conquering treble-winning season of 2022/23, ending the campaign as the team’s second top goal-scorer with a 22-goal haul, including several key strikes to help Totton secure the Southern League Division One South title, both goals in the 2-1 victory over Berkhamsted in the Champion of Champions Super Cup, and the third in the 3-0 thrashing of Sholing in the Southampton Senior Cup final in May 2023.

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Ethan Taylor takes aim during the Southampton Senior Cup final triumph against Sholing at St. Mary's Stadium in May 2023.​

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Injury prompted a slow start to Taylor’s 2023/24 campaign but a more productive second half of the season saw him finish with 16 goals, including the one that took the fateful Play-Off final at home to Salisbury to a penalty shoot-out. He also bagged Totton’s fourth in the 4-1 victory over Hythe & Dibden to seal a third successive Southampton Senior Cup triumph for the club.

Taylor celebrated his 200th AFC Totton appearance at Basingstoke Town on Good Friday in April 2025, and took his goals tally for the season to 15 with the all-important winner that defeated Gloucester City in the Play-Off final in May 2025, to secure Step 2 football for the first time in The Stags’ entire 139-year history.

That historic encounter took Ethan Taylor’s AFC Totton record to a total of 204 appearances in all competitions, scoring 80 goals.

Boss Jimmy Ball commented:

“Ethan has been an important player for us over the last few years, and he has contributed a lot to the success we’ve achieved. I was keen to keep him as we move up to the National League South but despite making a couple of revised offers to the player and his representative, we were unable to persuade them that Ethan’s immediate football future lies with us.

“So, he’ll be moving on over the course of this summer. Wherever he decides to play his football next season, that team will have signed themselves an excellent young player who I have very much enjoyed working with, and I wish him every success in the rest of his football career.”

 

[Southend Elvis]

It seems to me one of the things most of those successes did have was an early development at clubs up the pyramid. They had the training and ability to be part of that.

They then drop down the pyramid but retain the desire to recapture what they hoped for earlier in their career. They believed in themselves then and do now.

If you look at KAF. He will have hoped for a career with WH in the premiership. Didn’t work out but he has the grounding, the fundamental skills and retains the desire and professional attitude. He will again play higher up the pyramid even if not the Prem.
This is the type of background I like. Personally.

Young high division talent doesn't normally lose desire as you say, but it's the guys just looking for another pay check before they hang up their boots that we need to avoid.
I don't mind Hopper, but he's one when we signed him, was looking towards the end of his career.

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

The season is what, 7 weeks away and you’re suggesting we cannot compete for promotion?
We will sign players and I’m sure Cashman isn’t the be end all of the push for a successful season.

It wasn’t meant to be.

We've signed nobody and missed out on top targets. There is a signing that should be announced this week but I'm not enraptured by it. We are several players short of contention and we won't get what we need by browsing in the bargain racks with a few days left to go before the season starts.

 

[Up the Villa]

It seems to me one of the things most of those successes did have was an early development at clubs up the pyramid. They had the training and ability to be part of that.

They then drop down the pyramid but retain the desire to recapture what they hoped for earlier in their career. They believed in themselves then and do now.

If you look at KAF. He will have hoped for a career with WH in the premiership. Didn’t work out but he has the grounding, the fundamental skills and retains the desire and professional attitude. He will again play higher up the pyramid even if not the Prem.
This is the type of background I like. Personally.

LCP is the same IMO, was with Luton Town from 9, then trialled for Villa & Oxford, he chose Oxford pro contract for 2 years before release, went to Hitchin, kings Langley & Slough still wants it

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

How many of those names players do you see acting like a real leader (lifting players up when things get tough, encouraging others etc). They are all experienced but they are all fairly quiet on the pitch which is my point and why I think we need a proper leader/captain.

Ok, so it’s not experience you want (as we already have that) but leadership qualities.

It seems to me one of the things most of those successes did have was an early development at clubs up the pyramid. They had the training and ability to be part of that.

They then drop down the pyramid but retain the desire to recapture what they hoped for earlier in their career. They believed in themselves then and do now.

If you look at KAF. He will have hoped for a career with WH in the premiership. Didn’t work out but he has the grounding, the fundamental skills and retains the desire and professional attitude. He will again play higher up the pyramid even if not the Prem.
This is the type of background I like. Personally.

Yes, those with the academy grounding who were released but bounce back successfully in NLS/N are usually the sweet spot. They tend to combine the technical ability with the mental side having worked their way back through part-time football.

 

[danbowen]

Ok, so it’s not experience you want (as we already have that) but leadership qualities.


Yes, those with the academy grounding who were released but bounce back successfully in NLS/N are usually the sweet spot. They tend to combine the technical ability with the mental side having worked their way back through part-time football.

I feel the leadership we need comes from experience. The likes of Lopata were great in terms of upping the standard however again he wasnt the sort of players who have that been there done that mindset we miss. The sort of players I am talking about would help us in so many different circumstances (Norwood would be a good example - disclaimer I am not saying that is who we should sign but he has been promoted 3 times, comes on with the big game experiences like Wembley finals and can calm teams down when chasing games etc)

 

[SuffolkShrimpers]

Unfortunately our owners not rich enough to go bring in the required quality to win this league. Nice guys but light pockets when it comes to the transfer market, thats bit of problem when we are in world of football where money brings success the majority of the time...... That's why we have seen in recent years the club's with the wealthy owners win this league! And it won't be any different next season. We are in different league where we are heavily reliant on past it john still to find some hidden gems which the data approves. Let's see what happens from now but I haven't got my hopes up for great summer transfer window.

Barnet FC wasn’t loaded, they gambled on winning the league, has they missed out on promotion, they would be done next season.

 

[Shrimper]

Barnet FC wasn’t loaded, they gambled on winning the league, has they missed out on promotion, they would be done next season.

Barnet were helped by having 50% sell on clause on profit of Ronnie Edwards when Peterborough sold him. £1m+

They also got a 7 figure fee as a sell on for Ehpron Mason-Clarke last winter.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I feel the leadership we need comes from experience. The likes of Lopata were great in terms of upping the standard however again he wasnt the sort of players who have that been there done that mindset we miss. The sort of players I am talking about would help us in so many different circumstances (Norwood would be a good example - disclaimer I am not saying that is who we should sign but he has been promoted 3 times, comes on with the big game experiences like Wembley finals and can calm teams down when chasing games etc)

Well, the whole squad now has the experience of needing a clean sheet final day of the season against the team they were vying with for the final spot and seeing it out; they have experience of going behind in big games at Rochdale and Forest Green and being calm enough to play their way back in; they have experience of playing extra time (four times in big games this last season!); they have experience of penalties in a big match; they have experience at seeing out a lead in the play-offs at Rochdale; they now have experience of playing at Wembley and in front of a massive crowd.

If leadership comes from experience as you suggest we seem to have that box ticked.

 

[danbowen]

Well, the whole squad now has the experience of needing a clean sheet final day of the season against the team they were vying with for the final spot and seeing it out; they have experience of going behind in big games at Rochdale and Forest Green and being calm enough to play their way back in; they have experience of playing extra time (four times in big games this last season!); they have experience of penalties in a big match; they have experience at seeing out a lead in the play-offs at Rochdale; they now have experience of playing at Wembley and in front of a massive crowd.

If leadership comes from experience as you suggest we seem to have that box ticked.

Yet they still dont have the leadership quality I have highlighted very clearly - we are a very quiet team

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

Rumblings that Chesterfield is a complete ****hole that makes Derby look like the French Riviera. Do one.

GYS jnr lives (Clay Cross) and works in Chesterfield, you couldn't be more wrong!!!
@ChesterfieldFan

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

GYS jnr lives (Clay Cross) and works in Chesterfield, you couldn't be more wrong!!!
@ChesterfieldFan

Unless it's been completely rebuilt in the last 15 years, I really don't think so Sue.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

GYS jnr lives (Clay Cross) and works in Chesterfield, you couldn't be more wrong!!!
@ChesterfieldFan

Chesterfield ain’t the Essex riviera

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

Unless it's been completely rebuilt in the last 15 years, I really don't think so Sue.

Who's Sue?

 

[Linda Loan Shark]

Carlisle have signed centre back Morgan Feeney. 26 years old and played 36 league 1 games last season. I bet he will be on a big wage.

 

[bazzashrimper]

Who's Sue?

Are we signing her?

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Carlisle have signed centre back Morgan Feeney. 26 years old and played 36 league 1 games last season. I bet he will be on a big wage.

Fancy playing L1 and dropping to the National League at 26. He mustve been ****e !

 

[SuffolkShrimpers]

Barnet were helped by having 50% sell on clause on profit of Ronnie Edwards when Peterborough sold him. £1m+

They also got a 7 figure fee as a sell on for Ehpron Mason-Clarke last winter.

They had squad of 28 players, I bet their wages wasn’t cheap, especially living in London and outside won’t be cheap either.