FOOTBALL – Mike Fowler keen to recruit in four key areas of Redditch United squad after retained and released list revealed

MIKE Fowler admits Redditch United will look to recruit in four main areas next season after retaining the majority of his squad.

The Reds recently revealed the club’s retained and released list of players following the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign.

Some 14 players have agreed to stay with the Reds next season while the club remain in talks with three other players.

And Fowler believes continuity is key for Redditch after the club just missed out on a play-off spot last season.

Fowler said: “We’ve kept a large proportion of the squad and why wouldn’t you?

“Non-league football can be such a cesspit at times. Manager’s throw it all out the window and start again and I don’t think that is the case.

---

---

“If you keep the same squad together that only missed out on goal difference, they’re going to be better off for that experience.

“Why wouldn’t you have that continuity and build upon that.

“We’re waiting on a couple of players and we made good offers to the players not under contract.

“The value is in the offer we give. I don’t throw offers out into thin air and let it float around.

“It’s about mutual respect and there’s no coincidence a lot of our players have had their best season to date.”

Only four players will depart the Valley Stadium with Dexter Dudley-Toole, Matty Warburton, Reece Flanagan and Stan Amos to leave the club.

And Fowler explained the reasons behind the decision to allow some of his players to depart the Valley Stadium.

Fowler added: “On the players leaving the club, it’s the toughest thing as a manager to tell people there’s nothing here for you.

“I thank them for their efforts but to move this club forward and make us better, I need to make sure I have the players that can deliver what I’m seeing.

“Matty Warburton was offered a player-coach role and he was very flattered but his circumstances have changed. It was the right time for him to do what he’s done.

“Stan Amos was a temporary contract anyway. It just hasn’t worked for him, he needs to go and play regular football.

“Dexter Dudley-Toole, I know he’s popular here. I took him to Studley at Step Five and he had a really good season.

“He’s a very talented lad, I recommended him to come him. He’s been up and down, he’s had a lot of stuff to deal with this year.

“We’ve tried to support him and it’s impacted him more than he would have liked which resulted in some inconsistency with the performances.

“He’ll go on to have a very good career but with the people we’ve got staying, we’ve got a lot of options in that area.”

Loan players Tyrese Warmington and Jack Loughran have now returned to their parent clubs with the former leaving a lasting impression following an impressive campaign between the sticks.

And Fowler admits finding a new goalkeeper is at the top of his list regarding incomings this summer.

Fowler said: “We’ve been in constant recruitment mindsets. We’re always looking to improve.

“It’s not going to be as much as a whirlwind as last year because we had to get a whole new squad in.

“In hindsight, we did well with that. It’s not going to be as exciting as that unfortunately.

“There are four main areas that we’re looking at.

“First and foremost we’ve got to replace Tyrese Warmington which is going to be one of the toughest tasks I’ve ever head in football.

“That’s absolutely top priority at the moment.

“We’ve got to score more goals, we created a lot of chances that we haven’t taken and we lost out on goal difference, we weren’t even close to getting in on goal difference.

“We have to find one or two players at the top end of the pitch that can add 20 to 25 goals to us.

“And then a natural left back to get some balance down that side and defensive midfield.”