The focus will be on recruitment at Edgeley Park, but the Hatters will need to ensure they keep hold of two of their key stars
As Stockport County gets ready for its first League One season in more than ten years, the summer is expected to be significant.
Naturally, the attention will be on who enters Edgeley Park, but some effort may also need to be put into holding onto some of the team’s top players from the previous season.
A transfer price would be necessary because both of the players on this list are currently under contract at Stockport, although the Hatters might not be persuaded by a highball offer alone.
Here, FLW examines two players that might draw attention this summer.
After having excellent seasons on loan at Gateshead and Spennymoor Town, Ethan Pye has had a breakthrough season at Edgeley Park.
When manager Dave Challinor introduced the 21-year-old into the first squad at the start of the season, few could have foreseen the impact he would have in such a short period of time.
Throughout the season, he made 35 league appearances for the Hatters, all but one of which came from the opening whistle. He also contributed a goal and an assist.
Pye and Fraser Horsfall have developed a strong defensive connection. Pye can play at left back, on the left side of a three, or as part of a center-back tandem.
As expected of a young defender, he still occasionally makes snap decisions, but he is a reliable backup who can make crucial interceptions and last-ditch tackles. In addition, he is incredibly at ease on the ball and composed when receiving the ball under duress.
Aside from his left-footedness, which is one of the most sought-after qualities in a defender in the modern game, Pye possesses almost every attribute that makes a defender attractive in the current market, which is likely to spark attention.
County supporters should relax knowing that Pye recently inked a new three-year contract, keeping him with the club for a very long time. Bids may still come in, and if they do, they will probably be substantial the club until 2027.
The fact that a bright young talent such as Pye wishes to commit his career in such a significant way to the Edgeley Park project instead of evaluating the market and considering other offers is a testament to how appealing the idea is.
Clubs can still submit bids despite the new contract, of course, but it puts all control in County’s hands in the event of a bid, and based on current data, it appears unlikely that anything extraordinary would force him to leave the team.
When Tanto Olaofe first arrived at Edgeley Park, he had a good appearance, but he was frequently undeveloped in front of goal.
That may have been the case for the previous season, but he has evolved into a completely different animal for this campaign.
He scored 20 goals and gave two assists in 43 League Two games for County, translating to an almost every-other-game goal contribution.
Throughout the season, he not only scored the most goals for the Hatters (all non-penalty goals), but he also showed great growth in all areas of the game.
He’s far more composed while in possession, has become a better decision-maker, is lethal when given half an opportunity to score, and is a relentless presser, but he’s also retained enough of the chaotic unpredictability that initially made him such a nightmare for opposing teams.
He’s still a young player, only 24 years old, and many will be curious about his ceiling after seeing how well he performed in the fourth tier.
Although it has previously been disclosed that Millwall has a buy-back clause on Olaofe—the specifics of which have not been disclosed—they would still need to persuade the striker to sign a contract with them. This might not be too simple for him to enter the Lions’ roster after a difficult experience the first time around, especially because he had such an impact as a member of a team that is currently only one division below and is on the rise.
Aside from Millwall’s condition, County is in a worse situation than Pye regarding his contract status because Olaofe’s original agreement with the team expires in the summer of 2025 and there has been no indication that negotiations for an extension have begun.
With the recent release of Paddy Madden, County needs to exert all of their efforts to retain Olaofe during the summer. This means that the team will need to find the equivalent of 37 goals this summer, either through business or from the present roster. Additionally, at this point in their growth, an aspirational team like the Hatters need to be keeping onto this promising talent.
Holding onto Olaofe until the summer will be the primary goal, but after that, focus needs to shift to resolving his contract problem. This cannot wait until deep into the upcoming season, as losing him on a free agent would be devastating and should be avoided at all costs.
