Comings and Goings at Edgeley Park !

It is barely 2 weeks since Neil Young was appointed Manager of Stockport County, but…as the blog has been unusually quiet of late, I offer this briefest of updates ,as to where we are as at Friday 29 May 2015, as we contemplate another season in Conference North.

Neil Young came to us with a relatively short managerial career littered with honours-three successive title wins at Chester, where his win ratio was 63%, being the pinnacle.

It was not long before County’s new Manager was making his presence felt, and a string of familiar faces headed for the Edgeley Park exit door, and a further half dozen were made available to interested clubs, amongst these Club Captain and County favourite Mark Lees, who would have been disappointed with this conclusion to a season in which he had stood out alongside Stephen O`Halloran at the back for the blues. 

The excellent O`Halloran had exited earlier, of his own accord, which, should Lees find a new club, would leave only the injured Danny Gregson with the necessary experience in central defence still about.

So…….quality defenders were clearly needed, but the Manager’s first signings were in positions further up the park………….

Firstly he settled on Karl Ledsham. Karl is well known to County supporters ,having plagued us with regularity whilst playing for Southport. The 6 foot 3 inch attacking midfielder played a major part in promotion push of last season’s  Conference North Champions Barrow, before electing to join the Hatters. Karl has always impressed me, and I am looking forward to seeing him bossing things in the middle for County!

Next in was a forward, in the shape of 21 year old Lamin Colley who joined from Bradford Park Avenue. 

With strikers Chris Sharp, Scott Spencer and Kristian Dennis leaving this was a welcome sign. At 6 foot 4 inches, Lamin seemed to fit the apparent NY Template, and although his goal scoring record is hard to get too excited about, he should again give us a physical presence sometimes lacking, up front, last term.

By this stage, with season ticket sales still on the up, and the message boards awash with supportive postings, it was hard to comprehend that there was still a lot of team building still to go.

 Onwards then with an announcement on COWS telling us that another signing had been made, ...... and an interesting one it was too.

Danny Morton, a 6 foot 1 inch defender from Clitheroe.

 Fans favourite …..Danny is a right back who also can turn his hand to matters across the back line if needs be, and it was good to see the classy move from County to agree to a pre season friendly at Clitheroe which hopefully will net the NPL club some welcome cash.

And so…to today , and another COWS announcement that heralded the arrival, from Football League club Carlisle United of Sean O`Hanlon- a 32 year old central defender who brings with him a wealth of experience, and…..judging by the photo ….not a little much needed grit......

 Sean is to be Club Captain and clearly much is expected of him!

All the above, even today`s  fresh stuff, will be relatively old hat now, to those of us in and around SK3, and even to many exiles who keep abreast of happenings at Edgeley Park via the lively supporters message boards and COWS, and know what`s what at the left click of a mouse.

This is intended for those, outside Stockport who may not even be County supporters but who make up the blogs large overseas readership.

Next week I am off to spend some time with the SCFC Academy, and will update you further subsequently on how Alan Lord`s charges are doing.

Keep reading !

Ian Brown