County land top target Horsfall
COUNTY finally secured the club’s major summer target this week, as Northampton Town defender Fraser Horsfall signed a three-year deal at Edgeley Park after completing a free transfer from Sixfields.
The Cobblers’ captain turned down new terms to remain at the beaten League Two play-off semifinalists, with Dave Challinor’s side seeing off competition from a number of Championship and League One sides to land the 25-year-old centre-half in a “huge coup” for the club.
Horsfall made almost fifty appearances and helped guide Northampton to a fourth-placed finish in the fourth tier last season, with Championship side Bristol City heavily linked with a move for the former Kidderminster Harriers man.
But The Hatters stepped up their interest in the commanding 6’3” defender over the past week, with Northampton stating that Horsfall had ultimately left to take up an “unbelievable” contract at Edgeley Park.
“Fraser is a player I’ve tracked for a long time, since his time at Huddersfield, through loan and permanent moves to Kidderminster and Macclesfield and onto Northampton, but to get him now after the season he has just had and the options he had to weigh up is a huge coup for us,” said Challinor.
“Over the past couple of seasons he’s established himself as statistically the most dominant defender in League Two, has excellent leadership qualities and is a threat in both boxes with nine goals himself last season.”
As talk around Horsfall’s impending exit from Sixfields gathered pace, suggestions from some at Northampton surfaced around Horsfall’s perceived weakness in possession of the ball.
Challinor, however, was quick to refute those claims about a new signing who the County boss believes can become a “Championship defender as a minimum”.
“I believe we can give him the platform to show the side of his game that I first noticed when he came onto the scene, something that he’s maybe not been required to show over the last few years,” he said.
“Not only is he undoubtedly a fantastic defender, but he is very comfortable in possession of the football and we believe that he can develop into a Championship defender as a minimum with his drive and determination, and the help and advice we can give him.
“I’m sure he’ll be a big player for us and will give us know how of the league and what’s required to be successful in it.”
Meanwhile, The Hatters were handed a further boost as influential midfielder Will Collar signed a bumper new three-year contract extension to remain with the club.
The box-to-box midfielder emerged as a main man in County’s storm to the National League title following the appointment of Challinor last November - with Collar going from a bit-part member of the squad under Simon Rusk, to a key component of a relentless midfield three at Edgeley Park.
The former Brighton prospect was believed to have been on relatively modest terms at the club after being handed a twoyear contract extension last spring - and County fans reacted with delight this week as the news of the 25-year-old’s new deal became official.
“Since I came to the football club if you asked everyone with an association with, or a supporter of the club, which player had had the biggest transformation, Will would be right up there in most people’s views,” said Challinor.
“He’s got himself fully fit, has worked his socks off and has shown great quality in a position that has given him license to show a bit more of his game. For him to commit his long-term future to the club is a huge signing and I really believe there is more to come from him, and that he can play a big part in the club’s journey over the next three years.”
County’s squad is expected to continue to take shape for the new campaign this week, with focus likely to shift onto potential outgoings from the club as Challinor looks to trim numbers.
Striker Alex Reid is likely to leave the club after falling out of favour over the last year at Edgeley Park, with a move to Solihull Moors – close to Reid’s hometown of Birmingham – still a possibility.
The beaten National League play-off finalists are believed to have made an approach for Reid on transfer deadline day back in March which ultimately failed, although the protracted move now appears to have moved closer.