Four Aldershot Town players have signed new contracts to remain at the club for the 2024-25 season.
Ashley Akpan, Christian Maghoma, Hady Ghandour and Oliver Turner have all put pen to paper to commit to the Shots for next season.
Maghoma and Ghandour suffered with injury problems during the 2023-24 season and will be looking to enjoy injury-free seasons having returned to fitness towards the end of the campaign.
Akpan and Turner are yet to make their first-team debuts for the Shots but were involved in a number of matchday squads throughout the 2023-24 season, having trained with the first-team after signing professional development contracts at the start of the season.
Aldershot manager Tommy Widdrington said: “Ollie and Ashley have trained with the first-team group for the vast majority of the season – looking very much at home when doing so – and have justified an extension to their contracts as they’ve both genuinely been considered to play on many occasions this past campaign. The group’s overall output meant they both made the matchday 16 on numerous occasions, so the next step in their pathway is to break into the starting 11 at National League level.
“Christian and Hady have been particularly unfortunate with serious injuries but both want to prove, to themselves as much as anything else, that they have a great deal to offer Aldershot Town FC. The older lads will literally feel like new signings to me and we look forward already to working with all four lads when we return after the summer break.”
Ghandour said: “First of all I want to say thanks to the management and staff for putting their continued faith in me despite my injury troubles. It’s an honour to be offered another year at Aldershot and I always wanted to remain here and show what I can do when I’m healthy, so I’m already looking forward to pre-season and I’m raring to go. Finally, a massive thanks to the fans for their support during a tough period of my career and I hope we as a group can give them even more to cheer about next season.”
Maghoma said: “I’m delighted to stay another year at Aldershot and I feel extremely blessed to be able to have an other opportunity to represent this football club. From the owner, the gaffer, staff, the players and fans, every single one of you have made me feel at home even though I spent pretty much all of the season out – I truly thank you all for that. Life’s full of ups and downs and I’m grateful for the experience regardless. Now it’s time to look forward to next season where, God willing, I will have much more of a part to play in an even better season for the club.”
Akpan said: “I’m really happy to sign a new deal with the club. It was a good first season in men’s football for me which was filled with various experiences – the first half being on loan and since the new year being here around the first team everyday which I have learnt a lot from. The players and staff have been really supportive and the new deal gives me a good opportunity to push on next year, which I’m looking forward to.”
Turner said: “I’m delighted to sign a new deal with the club. It’s been a good year around a good group who have had a very good season. I’ll be looking to kick on from the get go and make the most of this opportunity.”
Aldershot have confirmed their retained list following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. Ollie Harfield, Theo Widdrington, Tyler Frost, Lorent Tolaj, Ollie Bray, Aaron Jones, Jack Barham and Maxwell Mullins remain under contract with the club.
Jordi van Stappershoef, Cian Harries, Coby Rowe, Ryan Glover, Keane Anderson, Olly Scott, Josh Barrett, Dejan Tetek and Kwame Thomas have been offered a new contract and remain in talks with the club.
Stuart O’Keefe, Zain Walker, Alex MacAllister, Ethan Burnett, Tommy Willard, Jasper Sheik and Finlay Westen will leave the club when their contracts expire. Loan players Haji Mnoga, Josh Stokes, James Daly and Dylan Kadji have returned to their parent clubs.