Stockport County's signing of defender Fraser Horsfall has been lauded as a potential game-changer by boss Dave Challinor.... but it hasn't sat well with his former Nothampton teammates.
Tuesday saw County complete the free transfer of the 25-year-old, who joins the League Two side after Stockport won last season's National League title. They have already been installed as bookies' favourites to repeat the feat next term and barge their way into League One.
They were taken over by local businessman Mark Stott in 2020 and he has invested plenty into the playing squad and club infrastructure. That culminated in last season's promotion and just recently Stott announced he had cleared the £7.7m debt the club owed him. The club, as a result, are in rude health financially hence their tag as promotion favourites.
They return to the EFL after an 11-year absence but the signing of Horsfall is a clear indication they do not intend on merely making up the numbers.
After posting confirmation of his move on Instagram, a clutch of Northampton players responded with mocking, sarcastic comments - insinuating that money was behind the move.
Striker Sam Hoskins wrote: "All th£ bЄ$t mate." Defender Aaron McGowan put: "All the Be$t". Midfielder Mitchell Pinnock posted: "My $kipp£r." A former Macclesfield colleague of Horsfall's, Emmanuel Osadebe, also got involved and replied with a host of emojis including a money bag.
Challinor, who raised eyebrows last term when he walked out on League Two Hartlepool to take up the County job, is delighted with Horsfall's addition. He suggests the centre-half has the potential to play in the Championship "as a minimum".
“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. 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.
"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.”
The Hatters begin life back in the EFL with a home game against Barrow on July 30.
