With the regular season drawing to a close, my mind has already started wandering toward the summer window. Whether we manage to clinch promotion or find ourselves preparing for another go at League Two, the squad is going to need some surgery.

I wanted to open a thread to see where everyone else’s head is at regarding two things:

1. The Retained List:

We’ve got a few players with contracts winding down this June. Looking at the squad, there are some tough calls to make. Players who are out of contract:

Rod McDonald
Matty Platt
Ollie Norburn
Maz Khouyar
Keanan Bennetts

is there anyone you'd List for transfer?

and;

2. The "Wish List"

If the Reedtz brothers handed you the reins this summer, where are you spending/saving?

Personally, I think we still look thin at the back with the Platt/Macari injuries, and I’d love to see more creativity/goal threat behind Jatta to take the pressure off.

Who is on your radar? * Are there any standout players from our League Two rivals you’d like to poach?

Should we be looking at the National League again for those "hidden gems" we love so much?

I’m curious to see if anyone else has given it much thought!

COYP!

I'll chip in as soon as the season's decided @NCFCGuy

If one of those out-of-contract players hits a late winner in the play-off final to become a Notts legend then they're definitely on my retained list

But the Platt/Macari situations probably means fewer gambles, more sure-things.

Looking at some of the reported salaries of a few, I think there is some who I would release/try and offload regardless, but I agree theres some difficult decisions to be made!

Whichever division we are in next season we are going to need some creative goal threats in the attacking midfield area just behind the striker, especially as we will be losing Iorpenda and Luker.

Macari goes thru to summer 2027 I think.

Having 2 first choice defenders out for most/a lot of next season already seems like quite a handicap.

What are the precedents for a player like Platt? Do clubs always or usually extend them - partly due to maintaining a positive reputation with potential signings and agents etc? Or are there cases of players like Platty being released as they go thru their rehab?

Was his injury a full-on achilles tear so minimum 9 months?

Milai Perott (the young goalkeeper) and Nick Tsaroulla are also out of contract (according to transfermarkt) and then we've got the option to sign Tangen.

For me it'll depend on what League we are in next season, if we make it to League 1 I think we'd need a big summer of solid recruitment to make sure we don't come straight back down so I'd only really be looking to re-sign one or two, Tsaroulla being the main one, and probably Platt too.

If we are in League 2, I think the overall team is solid, for me the focus would be on adding a couple of good attacking midfielders. So I'd keep McDonald and probably Norburn because I think he's proved, red cards aside, if he keeps his head he's a good option at this level. I'd try and get Luker because I think we haven't seen the best of him. Tangen was starting to look good before his injury, but I feel like I haven't seen enough of him to properly judge him though.

i'm undecided on Tangen - due to fitness/injury we haven't really seen enough - depends on fees/wages i guess

Id offer Platt and Tsaroulla a new deal - although id look to sign a natural right footed RB/RWB so Tsaroulla's game time would be limited to rotation/injury cover

Norburn is a tough one - great for the level but it's the discipline that concerns me. Also likely a high wage that we could potentially use to sign a couple of replacements - theres some interesting free agents thats for sure!

has anyone thought about who they'd like to see in the Black & white Stripes?

Keanan Bennetts could become a very good first-team player, but also useful in rotation. With us allowing Kellan Gordon to leave, I think it's highly likely that the club will be working on a new deal for him.

Isn't Kelle Roos on a one-year deal as well? No, it's a 2-year-deal, with the option to extend. I hope we can find someone interested to take him off our hands, I am told he's a good earner and part of the reason why we were very determined to see him continue despite not being all that good for us. James Belshaw might not be the long term candidate but I think our season would have been better had we not insisted on Roos, this might sound harsh or others might agree but I think keepers bring confidence and ultimately I do belive Belshaw would have made a HUGE difference earlier on.

Rod McDonald and Matty Platt I would like to see retained, both good efenders. Platt can be exceptional, although his position is the centre of the back three and unless we switch to two central CBs I could see him being allowed to move on.

McDonald plays the role very well when fit, but both could easily be rotated to rest or play as their attributes are needed.

Maz Khouyar is a hard working, technically what I think we have missed. He might not be a world beater at this level, but his effort makes up for what he lacks. Keeping him would depend on whether we could sign someone who offers more, and is likely to contribute consistently. However, if his wages are not a lot, I would happily keep him.

I would offer Ollie Norburn a year-deal, no pay increase. I am not fussed if he stays or go, early on it took him time to show me that he still had it, partly due to his fintess but there's no doubt he's a good player. I just find it hard to decide, as he's prone to making rash decisions and he does tend to be carded a lot. It's natural to a degree with his style of play, and I think his nonense is far better than Mchael Doyle but I am mindful of how packed we are in midfield. We may wish to mix things up, and my decision now could change depending on what league we find ourselves in next season.

Harald Nilsen Tangen looks like one of those signings which will hinge on where we are too, much like Tyler Miller which in hindsight now feels like the club were aware of the Posh's interest in Alex Bass and that Miller would have stayed had we got promoted. I know this was what I got told, and I believe it as he did sign for Bolton and has had two more clubs since then (Miller).

I like Tangen, he works hard and looks capable of improving. I think a full season would show this, but I do think there's factors unknown to us right now as to his short deal to be here on loan.

For me Roos has to go - his high wage bracket and inconsistent fit for our system make him a prime candidate for a move away. Having spent time out on loan recently, it’s clear the club is looking in a different direction. Offloading Roos now provides significant funds to bring someone in who would genuinely push and challenge Belshaw  

Also id be looking to offload Mai Traore - Traore in his limited appearances has shown small flashes, but often looks isolated in the Notts system. His style is perhaps better suited to a more direct, counter-attacking team rather than a side that demands intricate link-up play in the final third. By placing him on the transfer list, we could find a buyer who values his specific physical attributes, allowing us to pivot towards a 'Poacher' type striker with instincts to compliment the physical prescence currently in the squad

It might be controversial but id also be open to any decent offers for Matt Dennis - although his goal contributions have been vital at times, I feel towards the 2nd half of the season his determination off the ball seemed to drop - and with rumours in January of interest from the Belgian and Polish top flights, he might be the ideal example of the Brothers' model of finding gems and moving them on for a profit.

The squad as a whole hasn't been good enough to get autos from L2. I know we came close and MK are a special case budget wise but it's a pretty low bar - the bottom division and three places up for grabs. We lack a little bit of flair, fight, leadership and discipline, and we are injury prone. So time for a clear out even if we get promoted.

Keep if we can: Jatta, McDonald, Tsaroulla, Robertson, Grant, Macari, Bedeau. Belshaw will do as well but an upragde would be good.

Sign if we can: Iorpenda and Luker.

No idea about these but retain if they are serious prospects: Browne, Enoru, Perott, Griffiths.

I'd actually take offers for Dennis, Jones and Palmer. This would raise some cash and help with the reset. We need a couple of senior pros we can build a team around.

The rest can go if we can shift them.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Sheffield Pie

I feel after 3 years in league 2 despite gradual improvement season on season, not achieving promotion this time will irk a portion of the fanbase and with that in mind, this would be a good season to clear out some who lack the resiliency to play a full season/Cash in on others. I think only offering Platt and Tsaroulla a new deal and selling Dennis and Traore would allow us to fill any gaps that have shown this season.

I feel we need a natural right footed Fullback/Wingback and I cant think of anyone I'd like to see more than Gus Scott-Morris (Southend United). He is arguably the most effective wing-back in the lower leagues and would be a massive upgrade for the Notts right flank. His elite crossing ability and knack for arriving at the back post to score goals(15 this season!) make him the quintessential modern wing-back for a high-intensity, attacking side. 

with injuries to Platt and Macari, I feel we need a couple of new faces in at the back. Jack Shepherd (Barnsley) and Will Wright (Swindon Town) would provide Notts County with a formidable and technically gifted defensive foundation. Shepherd, a commanding left-footed Centre-back with over 3,100 minutes in League One this season, offers elite aerial dominance (93% duels won) and the composure to build from the back. Meanwhile, Will Wright brings a rare offensive spark to the defence, having registered 6 goals and 5 assists in the 2025/26 campaign, making him a lethal threat from set-pieces and transitions. Together, their blend of physical grit and high-level ball progression would perfectly stabilize the Magpies' backline while significantly increasing their goal output from defensive positions.

another position we've had issues is in the middle of the park. Palmer and Robertson have been fantastic when fit, but when they've been injured we've looked a bit light and there is a plethora of talent that will be available to fill the gaps. the two that I would love to see are: Ossama Ashley (Salford City) Provides the "steel" that balances out the "silk" provided by Palmer in the Notts midfield. Known for his high energy and tenacity, he is a ball-winning specialist who can break up play and transition the ball quickly to more creative players, and; Ashley Charles (Bromley) A metronomic midfielder who thrives on keeping the game moving. His suitability for Notts stems from his high volume of successful passes and his press-resistant nature; he rarely panics when closed down in his own half.  

We've also lacked creativity in those pockets between the midfield and the striker and Jack Payne (Colchester Utd) brings a wealth of EFL experience and a high football IQ to the attacking third. He is excellent at finding pockets of space between the opposition’s midfield and defensive lines, a crucial skill when Notts faces teams that "park the bus." His vision and ability to execute the final pass would take some of the creative burden off the aging veterans, providing a consistent spark and a high volume of chances for the strikers. Also Mark Helm (Fleetwood Town) represents the "buy-to-develop" model that the Reedtz brothers favour. He is a dynamic, intelligent attacking midfielder who excels in quick, one-touch combinations and ghosting into the box late. He is able to operate on both the left and right of attacking Midfield, or as a deeper number eight, giving the manager tactical flexibility while maintaining the high technical standards required to flourish in a possession-heavy system. 

Finally I feel like although the strikers have been great, we have often lacked a bit of variety up top, with Jatta and N'Dlovu offering similar attributes. Kelly N'Mai (Salford City) and Danny Ormerod (AFC Fylde) would be transformative additions to the Notts County frontline, combining League Two experience with prolific non-league form. N’Mai, a standout for Salford City this term, has registered 5 goals and 4 assists in 25 matches, proving himself as a creative, high-energy capable of playing in attack or on the left side, dismantling organized defenses. He would be perfectly complemented by Ormerod, whose extraordinary 2025/26 campaign with AFC Fylde has seen him net 31 goals and 6 assists, cementing his reputation as one of the most clinical young strikers in the country. Together, N'Mai’s ability to create chances from the wide areas and Ormerod’s relentless finishing would provide the Magpies with a potent, multi-dimensional attack built for both immediate success and long-term value.