[themaclad]

Stockport County have brought in midfielder Odin Bailey on loan from Salford City until January.

Bailey made 22 appearances last season as Salford finished seventh in League Two.

The former Birmingham City trainee, 23, has had successful previous loan spells with Forest Green Rovers and in Scotland with Livingston.

He is not eligible for Stockport's game with Crawley Town tomorrow.

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Stockport County have signed Ethan Bristow on loan from MLS side Minnesota United until the end of the season.

Bristow, 22, moved to America in the summer from League Two club Tranmere Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

The defender, who came through the ranks at Reading, has made 62 appearances at senior level in England.

Bristow will train with Stockport immediately, but requires international clearance before he can begin playing in January.

The new Saint Kitts and Nevis international played 12 times for Minnesota before their season ended in October, but he will only return to the MLS when the English season has finished in May.

"We're delighted to be able to secure bringing Ethan to the club," Hatters manager Dave Challinor told the club's website.

"There are so many positives to the move from our perspective."

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Stockport County have signed midfielder Odin Bailey for an undisclosed fee from fellow League Two side Salford City after his loan spell ended.

The 24-year-old joined the Hatters on loan in September and has made a total of 24 appearances for the club.

"He's had such a positive influence on the group during his loan, he's had a really enjoyable experience," boss Dave Challinor told the club website.

"The continuity that this will provide to our team will be vital."

[themaclad]

Stockport County have signed Manchester United defender Rhys Bennett on loan until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old was captain of the United youth team which won the FA Youth Cup in 2022.

Bennett spent time training with Stockport last season as part of a work experience arrangement with the Premier League side.

He could make his debut for the Hatters in Saturday's League Two trip to Notts County.

[themaclad]

Stockport have signed Lewis Cass on loan from Port Vale until the summer.

The 23-year-old reunites with boss Dave Challinor, who worked with Cass when they won promotion from the National League with Hartlepool United in 2021.

The right-back joined Vale permanently in the summer after two loan spells, helping them win promotion in 2022, and has played 20 times this season.

"Lewis is someone I know well having worked with him before at Hartlepool," Challinor said.

"He's a very good character and has experience, despite his age, of being involved in promotion-winning teams.

"He'll give us real good versatility down that right-hand side, the one area in the team where we needed some depth."

[themaclad]

Stockport County captain Paddy Madden is leaving the League Two champions after failing to agree a new contract with the club.

The 34-year-old scored 65 goals in 155 appearances for the Hatters and has scored four hat-tricks in all competitions this season.

Madden scored 17 goals as County won the title by four points ahead of Wrexham.

The Irishman joined Stockport in March 2021 and won the National League title in his first full season with the club, scoring 23 league goals.

"The club can confirm that captain Paddy Madden will depart Edgeley Park in the summer. Unfortunately, both parties could not come to a satisfactory agreement," Stockport said in a statement on their website., external

"The Irishman's place as a club legend is already assured, having hit 65 goals – making him the 10th highest goal scorer in our history."

Madden began his career in English football at Carlisle in 2011 before moving to Yeovil on loan the following year and making the move permanent in 2013.

He moved to Scunthorpe in 2014, then in League One, where he played 196 games and scored 60 goals.

A further 53 goals in 149 appearances for Fleetwood Town followed before he made the move to Stockport.

Todd Kane, Ryan Croasdale, Myles Hippolyte, Jordan Smith, Bobby Jones, Taylor McMahon and Christian Mulindwa will also leave the club.

Stockport said Ryan Rydel, Cody Johnson, Ben Hinchliffe, Macauley Southam Hales, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Antoni Sarcevic were negotiating new deals.

Meanwhile, Ben Knight, Rhys Bennett, Lewis Cass, Louie Barry, Rico Richards and Ethan Bristow have returned to their parents clubs after the completion of their loans

Wing-back Ryan Rydel has signed a new three-year deal with League Two champions Stockport County.

The 23-year-old has played 83 times since joining from Fleetwood Town just over three years ago and will now stay at Edgeley Park until 2027.

Although he has not featured since September after damaging knee ligaments in training Rydel is set to be back to full fitness for preseason training.

Stockport finished four points clear at the top of League Two to seal their return to the third tier for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

[themaclad]

Stockport County defender Ethan Pye has signed a new three-year deal.

The 21-year-old made 42 appearances in all competitions this season as the Hatters won the League Two title.

“He’s thoroughly deserving of the contract extension but, pleasingly, he also recognises that this is, and has been, a great place for him to develop and improve," boss Dave Challinor told the club website., external

"For him to be continuing the start of his journey in professional football here at Stockport County is fantastic news for everyone.”

[themaclad]

Antoni Sarcevic is to leave League Two champions Stockport County after failing to agree a new contract.

The midfielder, who played a vital part in successive promotions, said in a statement on social media that he had been "dreading the day I'd be writing this" after the club announced a parting of the ways.

The 32-year-old's departure comes a few days after top scorer Paddy Madden joined Chesterfield, also after failing to agree new terms.

Stockport owner Mark Stott has already made it plain the club is trying to sign Aston Villa's Louie Barry, who made a big impact on loan this season, on a permanent deal.

Sarcevic dropped two divisions to join Stockport, then in the National League, from Bolton Wanderers in 2021 and has made 100 appearances for the Edgeley Park club.

Seven promotions
A statement on the Stockport club website said Sarcevic will leave at the end of his contract "with both parties unable to come to a satisfactory agreement over new terms."

Both Sarcevic and Madden are understood to have wanted contracts longer than the one-year deals on offer.

This season's promotion was the seventh of Sarcevic's career, having also helped Chester (twice), Fleetwood Town, Plymouth Argyle and Bolton move up the divisions.

Sarcevic said: "Two promotions and double champions. It couldn't have gone any better, we did what we planned to do when I signed.

"To play for Stockport was always special for me being a local lad and a privilege to wear that shirt but then to go on to achieve what we did and celebrate how we did with you unbelievable fans will be something me and my family will never forget."

[themaclad]

Stockport County goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe has signed a new two-year deal.

The 36-year-old has made 376 appearances for the Hatters and was ever-present as they won the League Two title this season.

Hinchliffe was also part of the County team that won the titles in both National League North and the National League.

“Multiple seasons on the trot now the team has benefited from his excellent performances and all the signs are that he is getting better," director of football Simon Wilson told the club website.

[themaclad]

Stockport County defender Macauley Southam-Hales has signed a new one-year deal to remain with the League Two title winners.

The 28-year-old joined from Fleetwood Town in 2020 and has since won two promotions with the club.

Last season he made 24 appearances but his current season was cut short due to a knee injury sustained in February.

“I said at the time everyone was gutted when Macca picked up his injury, a long-term injury at a point where his contract ended at the end of the season," boss Dave Challinor said.

“He’s been an integral part of the club and team for the last few years and this contract extension shows an appreciation of that and his value within our group.

"The club have been great in looking after him and giving him the opportunity to get himself back fit, which could be anywhere up to maybe Christmas."