National League

Latest updates

  1. Pools midfielder Hunter extends staypublished at 18:56 BST

    Jack Hunter claps the Hartlepool United fansImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Jack Hunter made 34 National League appearances for Hartlepool in 2025-26

    Hartlepool United midfielder Jack Hunter has signed a new one-year deal.

    The 28-year-old, who came through Newcastle's academy, joined Pools from Halifax in July 2024 and has made 64 league appearances.

    "The supporters have been brilliant with me since day one and I've loved my time here over the last two seasons," Hunter, who can also play at centre-back, told the club website., external

    "Obviously, as players, we all wish we'd achieved more during that period because the supporters deserve success, but there's a real determination from everyone to improve and push things forward."

  2. Altrincham skipper Crawford signs two-year dealpublished at 17:14 BST 25 May

    Altrincham's Tom Crawford (R)Image source, Shutterstock
    Image caption,

    Tom Crawford (R) missed only two National League games for Altrincham last season

    Club captain Tom Crawford has agreed a new two-year contract to stay at Altrincham.

    The midfielder, who turns 27 later this week, joined the Robins from Hartlepool two years ago and has since scored seven goals in 86 league appearances.

    "From the moment I walked into this club, it's felt like home," said Crawford, who was handed the captain's armband by manager Neil Gibson in February.

    "The support the fans have given me has been unbelievable. I'm delighted to commit my future to Altrincham and keep building something special together."

  3. Morton and Hopper leave Southend after FA Trophy winpublished at 15:44 BST 23 May

    James Morton tangles with Wealdstone's Nathan Tshikuna during Southend's FA Trophy win at Wembley on Sunday.Image source, Getty Images

    James Morton and Tom Hopper are leaving Southend United after helping the Shrimpers beat Wealdstone on penalties to lift the FA Trophy.

    Morton started at Wembley on Sunday, while Hopper came off the bench, and both will move on when their contracts expire next month.

    Cav Miley, Josh Walker and George Wind are also going when their deals end in June.

    Southend have triggered options to keep Oli Coker, Charley Kendall and Harry Taylor, while they have made Harry Cardwell's loan from Forest Green Rovers permanent.

    Southend say they are in talks with Collin Andeng Ndi, Keenan Appiah-Forson, Jack Bridge, Joe Gubbins, Noor Husin, Gus Scott-Morriss and Nathan Ralph about new contracts.

    Director of football Oliver Gage said: "Firstly, I want to thank every player departing the football club and all of them have contributed positively during their time at Southend United.

    "We're pleased to have retained a strong core within the squad, while also creating room to make targeted additions and improvements."

  4. Forward Charman agrees new deal with Poolspublished at 17:36 BST 22 May

    Luke CharmanImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Luke Charman scored three goals in 26 games in 2025-26

    Hartlepool United have agreed a new one-year deal with forward Luke Charman, with the club having the option of a further 12 months until the summer of 2028.

    Charman, 28, has scored seven goals in 66 games for Pools since joining from Fylde in 2024.

    He is the first player tied to a new deal under Hartlepool's new head coach Lee Clark.

  5. Knowles to leave Forest Green as Ajayi arrivespublished at 15:31 BST 22 May

    Midfielder Tom Knowles will leave Forest Green Rovers this summer after a "legacy error" in his contract meant the club did not have an option to extend his deal.

    Knowles scored 10 goals in 45 National League games this season, having joined the club from Walsall in 2024.

    "We believed an option had been triggered on Tom's contract following the conclusion of the season," a club statement said.

    "However, due to a legacy administrative error, this extension was not an option, meaning Tom will leave the club.

    "Unfortunately, Tom has decided to look at other opportunities and has played his last game in the FGR colours."

    Forest Green have, however, signed defender Kyle Ajayi from National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town on a two-year contract.

    The 25-year-old made 41 appearances this season and as captain, helped Hemel finish fifth in the table and reach the first round proper of the FA Cup, in which they lost to League One side Wigan Athletic on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

    "A club legend through and through," Hemel posted on X.

  6. Ashmore among six released by Boreham Woodpublished at 17:12 BST 21 May

    Nathan Ashmore in action for Boreham Wood wearing a purple short-sleeved goalkeeping shirtImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Nathan Ashmore started his career in Portsmouth's youth team

    Long-serving goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore is among six players to be released by Boreham Wood following their play-off final defeat by Rochdale at Wembley earlier this month.

    The 36-year-old made more than 250 appearances for The Wood but featured in only 12 National League games this season, spending two loan spells with Bedford Town in the National League North.

    Also leaving Boreham Wood are full-back Cameron Coxe, defender Joe Newton and midfielders Erico Sousa, Jack Payne and Charles Clayden.

    Experienced defender Femi Ilesanmi, who has made more than 350 appearances for Boreham Wood is in talks to extend his stay at Meadow Park.

  7. Southend appoint Duckett as head of recruitmentpublished at 18:04 BST 20 May

    Southend head coach Kevin Maher in a black t-shirt gives a thumbs up to supportersImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Southend sacked head coach Kevin Maher on Monday after nearly five years in charge

    Southend United have named Jonathan Duckett as their new head of recruitment just 24 hours after the National League club sacked head coach Kevin Maher.

    Duckett arrives at Roots Hall having spent two years in a similar role at the Blues' county rivals, Colchester United.

    He has also previously had roles in recruitment and technical scouting with Norwich City and the Football Association.

    Southend sacked Maher despite the club reaching the National League play-offs and winning the FA Trophy at Wembley on Sunday.

    "Jon has operated at a very high level across recruitment, scouting and player identification for many years, and his recent experience leading recruitment within League Two was particularly important to us," Southend's director of football Oliver Gage told the club website., external

  8. Watkiss and Oliveira leave managerless Harrierspublished at 11:53 BST 20 May

    Stuart Watkiss in the stands at AggboroughImage source, Kidderminster Harriers
    Image caption,

    Stuart Watkiss was in charge of Kidderminster Harriers the last time the club were in the EFL in 2004-05

    Kidderminster Harriers assistant manager Stuart Watkiss and first-team coach Mario Oliveira have both left the newly-promoted National League club.

    Watiss is a former Harriers boss and returned to Aggborough in October to join the coaching set-up of then boss Adam Murray.

    Former Nottingham Forest and Lincoln City coach Oliveira had been with Harriers since July last year.

    Their departures follow Murray's exit to become Barrow's new manager last week.

    Harriers, who are back in the National League next season after winning the play-off final, are yet to announce who will replace Murray on a permanent basis.

  9. Aldershot bring in Gillingham forward Wylliepublished at 18:22 BST 19 May

    Marcus Wyllie in green Gillingham change stripImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Marcus Wyllie got his move to Gillingham after a prolific spell at Enfield Town

    National League club Aldershot Town have signed forward Marcus Wyllie after his release from Gillingham.

    The 26-year-old scored once in 18 League Two appearances for the Gills and ended last season on loan at National League South club Ebbsfleet United.

    Shots manager Scott Davies said: "Marcus has had really good experience of being in the EFL with Gillingham over the past couple of seasons.

    "He certainly knows where the back of the net is and the style which he adopts off the ball is infectious."

  10. Boston goalkeeper Chadwick signs new contractpublished at 17:44 BST 19 May

    A young Louis Chadwick in a black Cambridge United tracksuit topImage source, Shutterstock
    Image caption,

    Louis Chadwick started his career with Cambridge United

    Boston United goalkeeper Louis Chadwick has signed a new one-year contract with the National League club.

    The 23-year-old joined the Pilgrims from King's Lynn Town in March, going on to make two appearances for Boston as they finished in 12th place in the National League table.

    Chadwick started his career with Cambridge United but failed to break into the first team.

    He spent time on loan at St Neots before joining the Linnets in 2025.

  11. Defender Clarke signs new Boreham Wood dealpublished at 17:29 BST 19 May

    The Boreham Wood club crest

    Boreham Wood defender James Clarke has signed a new contract which will keep him at the National League club until at least the end of the 2027-28 season with the option for a further 12 months.

    The 26-year-old right-back joined The Wood from league rivals Solihull Moors in March, making 11 appearances as they were beaten in the promotion final by Rochdale earlier this month.

    He scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Wealdstone in April with Boreham Wood finishing the season in fourth place and beating Forest Green Rovers and Carlisle United in the play-offs to reach the final at Wembley.

    Clarke started his career with Mansfield Town before signing for Solihull in 2021.

  12. Aldershot sign Reading winger Tumapublished at 17:44 BST 18 May

    Malta's Basil Tuma, in red shirt, holds off Memphis Depay of the Netherlands, in all blueImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Basil Tuma made his debut for Malta in 2024

    Aldershot Town have signed Malta international Basil Tuma from Reading.

    The 21-year-old winger spent the second half of the 2025-26 season on loan at Slough Town, under the new Shots boss Scott Davies.

    "Basil was arguably the best attacking player we had at Slough last season," Davies told the Shots' official website.

    "I know for a fact that, when he's on it, he will be one of the best forward players in the division."

  13. Beautyman turns down deal and leaves Wokingpublished at 17:42 BST 18 May

    Woking captain Harry BeautymanImage source, Shutterstock
    Image caption,

    Harry Beautyman joined Woking in 2024 from Sutton United

    Woking captain Harry Beautyman will be leaving the National League club after turning down a new contract.

    The 34-year-old had been offered an extension to his deal but Woking said he had chosen to take a "new opportunity", external, which "offers him and his family long-term stability both geographically and professionally".

    Beautyman made 90 appearances for the Cards, scoring 25 goals.

    The midfielder has also played for Sutton United, Stevenage, Northampton Town and Peterborough United.

  14. Rochdale in talks with Henderson, 41, over new dealpublished at 17:34 BST 18 May

    Ian Henderson playing for Rochdale last season during a midweek game Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Ian Henderson scored eight goals in Rochdale's promotion campaign

    Rochdale are in talks with veteran forward Ian Henderson over whether the 41-year-old will remain with the club in League Two.

    Henderson has played nearly 500 games for Dale across two spells and made 31 league appearances this season as the club was promoted from the National League via the play-offs at Wembley.

    Tyler Smith, a goalscorer against Boreham Wood in the final, and defender Kyron Gordon, who played all 120 minutes that day are also in negotiations along with teenager Corey Edwards.

    Goalkeeper Oliver Whatmuff, who saved two penalties in the deciding shootout is returning to parent club Manchester City as are Callum Perry, John Kymani-Gordon and Archie Baptiste.

    Meanwhile, Tarryn Allarakhia, Aidan Barlow, Jake Burger, Manny Duku, Anthony Gomez-Mancini, Bryce Hosannah, Connor McBride, Tom Myles, Joe Pritchard and David Tutonda are all out of contract and leaving the club.

  15. Odusina and Syla sign new Woking dealspublished at 13:32 BST 16 May

    Timi Odusina and Roy Syla have signed new contracts to stay with National League club Woking.

    Defender Odusina, 26, has agreed a two-year extension until 2028 - he has played 82 times for the Cards since signing in 2023.

    Former Ayr United midfielder Syla, 25, joined Woking on trial in January and has made 11 appearances, with his new deal keeping him at the club until 2027.

    The duo follow Harry Beautyman in agreeing new terms with Jermain Defoe's side since the season finished.