Halifax Town failed to make it three play-off campaigns in a row in the National League this season under new manager Adam Lakeland.
The Shaymen finished 8th in the fifth-tier, missing out on the top seven by eleven points following a poor run of form which saw them end with just two wins during their final seven matches.
This brought their 2025/26 campaign to an end, meaning attention will now shift to next season as well as tackling the upcoming retained list, which all clubs across the country will be submitting over the coming weeks.
With that in mind, reports are suggesting that two decisions have already been made by the club.
One stays, one goes at Halifax
Lakeland and his staff now face a tough period of conversations and decisions when it comes to the future of some of his Halifax players and for two individuals – it appears as though their fate is set to be confirmed.
Midfielder Florent Hoti had contributed to nine goals in each of his last two seasons for the club, but missed the majority of the current season through injury – scoring just one goal in seven league outings.
Meanwhile, defender Adam Adetoro has featured 29 times across the league, whilst contributing to two goals – though since February he’s only played twice, casting an element of potential doubt about his future.
However, a report from journalist Tom Scargill has confirmed both of their future’s, with Hoti set to leave the football club once his contract expires whilst Adetoro has had his one-year option triggered.
Confirming the news to the Halifax Courier, Lakeland stated…
”Flo (Hoti) has had a difficult season on a personal note, and I think he has found it hard to see others playing ahead of him and doing so well, which has seen his opportunities limited.
“There’s no doubt his ability, but I think it’s best for all parties that he moves on and we wish him well.
“We have an option on Adam’s (Adetoro) contract which we will be exercising, but I want to see a different, more consistent and mature Adam when we return in pre-season because he has undoubted ability, quality and physicality to be a very good player.”
How big a summer do Halifax have on their hands?
Whilst 8th in the National League shouldn’t be seen as a bad season due to the increased quality and competition throughout the division, Halifax are likely to be frustrated by not making it a hat-trick of play-off campaigns.
Whilst the futures of Hoti and Adetoro appear to be all-but-confirmed, Halifax do have other decisions that need making.
Playmaker Josh Hmami handed in a transfer request in the January transfer window, casting doubt over his future beyond the current campaign. The 26-year-old ended the campaign with 17-goal contributions in the league and is likely to be of EFL interest in the coming weeks.
Elsewhere, veteran goalkeeper Sam Johnson could find himself under competition next season, with the club already being linked with a possible move for Sunderland U21S goalkeeper Adam Richardson.
According to last season’s retained list, the likes of Jamie Cooke, Jack Jenkins and Angelo Cappello all had their one-year options triggered, which suggests that they are also out of contract this summer.
With Ash Palmer’s loan spell from York City now also over, a decision there will also need to be made over the summer.
These factors alone suggest Halifax will certainly be busy during the summer as they aim to get their quest for promotion back on track.
